“History only remembers the winners”. But is this adage true? In fact, the greater the adversity, the more memorable the triumph. This applies to wars, but also sports and motorcycle Grand Prix are no exception to the rule. In this article, we will therefore return to the “best losers” of history, those who only need a world champion title to cement their legend. Of course, we will only talk about riders who have never been crowned in their career, not just in MotoGP. Dani Pedrosa ou
Andrea Dovizioso, for example, have already had the chance to know the taste of a title in the lower categories.
I) Alex Rins
We are no longer letting go of the Spaniard.
After paying tribute to him at length in the Suzuki retrospective (2015-2022), here he is cited again. Because yes, Rins, a flamboyant pilot as can be, has never been rewarded.
This fact is strange to say the least, because he has always been fast regardless of the category. Few other drivers on this list can boast of having performed as well on three different displacements. First in Moto3, where he has eight victories. In 2013, the legendary Valencia explanation crowned
Maverick Vinales, While Alex Marquez was relatively better in 2014. Then,
Johann zarco blocked his way in 2015 and 2016 (again 2nd and 3rd overall). Finally, he never had the opportunity to get closer to the MotoGP title, except in 2020. He finished the campaign in third place.
The case of Rins is special, since he really came close to at least two championship victories (2013 and 2014). With
17 wins In his career, he is the second most successful driver never to have won the title. We will find the undisputed leader of this ranking later.
II) Randy Mamola
A totally different matter. Like many other Americans, Mamola spent very little time in the lower ranks. Thus, his case is not comparable to that of
Alex Rins. But all the same, four times vice-champion in 500cc (and twice 3rd), it's just enormous. On Suzuki, Honda and Yamaha, he never managed to win the Grail. Contrary to Dovizioso, Randy was beaten by four different drivers when he finished second! First of all
Kenny roberts brand in 1980 Marco Lucchinelli brand in 1981
Eddie lawson and in 1984
Wayne Gardner in 1987. What beautiful people. Mamola definitely has a place on this list.
III) Alex Barros
In his 18-year career, the Brazilian has never failed to win overall. We grant you, his case is unique, since he has never been in the fight for a title despite his seven victories. His best result, fourth (1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004) does not give it the same status as a Rins or a Mamola. However, knowing that one of the longest careers in the history of motorcycle sports has never been rewarded – especially given the talent of the man – hurts. This is why his name appears in this article..
IV) Miguel Oliveira
With 17 victories without ever a celebration in Valencia, the Portuguese is currently tied with Rins, second behind another thief who we will talk about later. Like the new pilot Honda LCR, Oliveira was fast in all three major categories. He is the very embodiment of “magnificent loser”. His end to the 2015 season in Moto3 was majestic, and Danny Kent didn't go far from the correctional facility. Twice, he appeared on the podium of the season in Moto2 (3e in 2017 and 2e in 2018). Certainly, we admit that his MotoGP career is, for the moment, less brilliant than that of Álex Rins, despite his five victories. But still! Miguel remains a generational talent, capable of achieving grandiose performances. May this article bring him luck!
V) Tadayuki Okada
A driver too often forgotten. Okada, on a good day, could chat face to face with the best drivers in the world.
Moreover, we placed him in first place in our ranking of the greatest Japanese drivers in history, a choice that we are far from regretting.. And yet, Tadayuki did not lift the trophy that matters most. To his credit, he never took part in a 125cc Grand Prix, but failed once in the quarter liter against Max Biaggi in '94. Within the armada Repsol Honda, Okada made his employer happy for his second year in 500cc. He finished second in
1997 behind teammate Mick Doohan. At the same time, the Australian was unplayable (yes, we are talking about a driver with 11 wins from 13 races completed). Then, a sluggish start to the season penalized him in 1999, against his other teammate in the person of Álex Crivillé. Okada nonetheless remains an immense pilot.
VI) Ralf Waldmann
Here it is. With 22 victories, he is the man with the most victories without ever having won a world title. The outlook of his career is different. Indeed, the German was a specialist in small categories, and only did one season in 500cc riding a Modenas KR3. His sensational speed is never enough. In 125cc, he finished third twice during the 1991 and 1992 seasons. A lackluster 1993 campaign was followed by a successful move to 250cc. During the second season in the category, Waldmann showed his fangs.
He won three races, reached the podium four times to finish… third behind Biaggi and Harada. In 1996, he achieved the exercise of his life. Ralf reached the podium 13 times in 14 races contested, and amassed four additional victories. All this to fail again against the “Roman emperor” Max Biaggi, king of quarter-liters. A year later, do it again. Biaggi, by just two points, is crowned for the fourth and final time in Grands Prix.
Despite two other victories in 250cc, including a memorable one during the 2000 British Grand Prix on the dryer, Waldmann never found his level again. But this period of seven years without leaving the top 5 of a championship is quite remarkable.
We had to pay tribute to him.
That's all for today ! Of course we could have talked about Sete Gibernau ou Wil Hartog, but the list is already long enough. Do you have any other names in mind? Do you think Rins and Oliveira can ward off bad luck? Tell us in the comments!
Cover photo: Ralf Waldmann at Suzuka in 1992, on his Zwafink Racing Honda RS125R. Photo: Rikita