Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing, also known as the MotoGP World Championship, has produced some memorable champions since it began in 1949. The motorcycle drivers race purpose-built bikes with four-stroke engines that are not available for purchase by the general public, and they race them across 18 circuits in 13 different countries, including the United States, Italy and Australia, to name only a few. It is a grueling and difficult race system that requires single-minded focus and dedication on the part of the racers. Yet over the more than 60 years that MotoGP has existed, a few premier riders have risen to the top of the sport. Here is a list of the 10 greatest MotoGP racers of all time.
10. Kenny Roberts
Motorcycle racer Kenny Roberts was the youngest person to have won a MotoGP premier class championship in his first year participating in the event. He was also the first American to win a world title in the 500cc motorcycle championship. From 1978 to 1980, Kenny Roberts won three MotoGP titles. But it was not just the trophies and titles that he racked up that made Kenny Roberts a motorcycle racing star. His riding style was very influential and made him one of the greatest rider of all time. He was the first riders to pull off the cornering method of hanging off the bike with his knees extended, which lead to major changes in how the motorcycles were ridden in grand prix races.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2011/07/18/king-kenny-roberts-to-ride-all-three-days-at-red-bull-u-s-gp/156274 Source: Motogp.com