Max Verstappen really knows his MotoGP champions!

Red Bull F1 ace, Max Verstappen, has proven that his understanding of two-wheeled bike racing matches his knowledge of four-wheeled motorsport, after he reeled off an impressive list of past MotoGP champions.

At the Qatar F1 Grand Prix, Max was asked about his knowledge of MotoGP champions, with the person behind the camera noting that the Lusail circuit is “more famous for being a bike track.”

What followed was Max listing off the latest racers to scoop the MotoGP title, including Marc Marquez, Francesco Bagnaia, and Jorge Martin. He then went on to name Fabio Quartararo, and then delved further into GP bike racing lore by listing Lorenzo and his Yamaha MotoGP teammate and rival, Valentino Rossi. 

Then Verstappen showed his just as up to speed with the racers who took the title in MotoGP’s golden two-stroke era, listing off Doohan, Criville, Schwantz and then, after stumbling over his thoughts for a moment, Gardner, Rainey, Agostini, Hayden, Mir, Lawson, and Surtees, who is the only racer to win the top prize on two and four wheels. In fact, the only rider the Dutchman missed from his list was Casey Stoner, with Verstappen reeling slightly when his error is pointed out to him

Naming all the MotoGP champions from the last decade, in the manner in which he does, is already impressive enough. But for Max to then go back in time and name the golden greats from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, is actually very impressive - especially given that Max was (only) born in 1997, the year that Mick Doohan won his fourth title on the bounce.

Indeed, Max was interviewed recently for Pelas Pistas podcast, when he spoke about his love of two-wheeled motorsport. "MotoGP," he confirmed when asked what his favourite racing series was. “If I could choose anything, like, let’s say, if you couldn’t race on four wheels or race in general, I would say MotoGP."

He has also revealed that he tries his best to watch every round of the season, even taking his iPad to F1 races to enable him to stay up to date with all the action.

For all the talk about F1 drivers living in their own bubble, Verstappen’s encyclopaedic recall – and obvious affection for MotoGP – shows he’s anything but. This wasn’t a rehearsed media line or a half-remembered nod to the big names; it was a genuine fan rattling through the eras with the ease of someone who’s spent late nights watching 500cc highlights and modern sprint races alike. And while he insists he’s got no plans to swap carbon brakes for carbon swingarms, it’s hard not to imagine the three-time F1 champ throwing a leg over a MotoGP prototype with the same clinical calm he brings to a qualifying lap. Until then, he’ll remain MotoGP’s most high-profile superfollower – iPad in hand, catching the race before he goes out on the track.

Find the latest motorcycle news on Visordown.com