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MotoGP is the most popular motorsport racing on two wheels. The best professional riders and their fastest bikes compete for the prestigious title and money prize. MotoGP teams invest heavily in every race in which they participate. They make sure that their bikes meet the race standards and that they can perform well while keeping the rider safe during the race.
Professional riders of MotoGP are one of the top-earning athletes in the motorsports industry. They earn from their contracts with racing teams, grand prizes from MotoGP races, and sponsorships from reputable companies and other products related to the sport. Read on to learn about the top earning MotoGP Racers for 2022.
MotoGP Racers
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme is the governing body for motorcycle racing. They are responsible for allowing significant events such as the Grand Prix motorcycle racing, where you can find the most popular and skilled motorcycle riders worldwide. MotoGP is an exciting event for the fans and enthusiasts of the motorsport, and it is also overwhelming to know how much these riders earn.
10. Jack Miller (Ducati Team) $1 Million
Jack Miller is an Australian motorcycle racer who joined the Ducati Team in 2015. He was able to give the team two wins and took ten podiums. His first race in Ducati colors in 2022 in Spain was a triumphant win followed by another victory at Lemans.
Jack Miller was from Townsville, Queensland, and grew up on their family’s cattle ranch. He also learned how to ride dirt bikes and became a national champion before he switched to road racing. He won a 125cc national title before pursuing a career in Europe, where he competed in the German and Spanish 125cc series that allowed him to be in the World Championship ride in the 2011 season and became one of the top-earning MotoGP racers in the world.
Miller had many races in building his career and made it to the MotoGP premier class for Ducati. His career helped him earn big with his salaries and endorsements, which gave him an estimated $16 million net worth in 2022. He also makes $6 million a year from his Suzuki Exctar MotoGP team in 2022. Jack Miller has endorsements from CAT and Red Bull and a salary of $1 million from Ducati.
9. Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati) $2 Million
Johann Zarco is one of the top-earning MotoGP racers worldwide and is currently under contract with Pramac Ducati Racing. He became one of the most popular motorcycle riders in MotoGP because of his excellent riding skills. Zarco also won back-to-back Moto2 World Championships, in which he ended the race with a stopping backflip.
Zarco was born in Cannes but left his home when he was still young to live with his coach, Laurent Fellon, and focused on motorcycle racing. They eventually parted ways in 2019, and Zarco started a successful career with Red Bull Rookies Cup, where he was the first champion in 2007. He also had a great racing event with the World Championship in 2009 as Gabor Talmacsi, former 125cc champion, supported his debut.
Johann Zarco has an estimated net worth of $2 million, most of his earnings from his Pramac Racing contract. His base salary with the racing team is $2 million, earning $105,200 for every race and a bonus for every win. He has a contract extension for the 2022 season with Pramac Ducati with a new deal of $2.5 million plus salary and sponsorship bonus.
8. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Yamaha) $2.5 Million
Fabio Quartararo is among the most successful MotoGP racers with his races for Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP. He became one of the wealthiest MotoGP racers, especially after sealing a contract with Yamaha. His salary with the team increased to $2.5 million and an estimated $5 million net worth. Quartararo is also known as El Diablo, as he finished with 127 points at 8th position in the 2022 season.
Quartararo debuted in Moto3 in 2014 and showed everybody his good racing skills, and he landed a promotion to Moto2 in 2017. He finally made it to MotoGP in 2019 when he joined Petronas Yamaha SRT, where he stayed for two seasons. In 2022, he transferred to Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP.
Fabio Quartararo was born in Nice on April 20, 1999. He was four years old when he began racing and eventually moved to Spain to pursue his career in joining more significant leagues. Quartararo won the 50cc class in 2008, the 70cc class in 2009, and the 80cc class in 2011.
7. Álex Rins (Suzuki Ecstar MotoGP) $2.5 Million
Álex Rins debuted in 2017 with the Suzuki team under the Spanish flag. He has an estimated net worth of $40 million for this year, with most portions of it coming from his racing career. Rins earns $2.5 million yearly with team Suzuki and more with his brand endorsements such as Monster Energy, Alpinestars, Pyrenees Andorra, and Estrella Galicia. As one of the top earning MotoGP racers, Rins also collaborated with charitystars.com several times as they auctioned some signed items for selected charity institutions.
6. Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha) $3 Million
Franco Morbidelli is an Italian professional motorcycle racer who became moto2 world champion in 2017. He sealed a two-year contract deal with Petronas Yamaha SRT and proved to be one of the best MotoGP racers in the industry. Morbidelli was a runner-up finisher in MotoGP and earned 158 points, which helped him make $3 million as his salary in 2021.
Morbidelli receives $7 million for his contract with Petronas Yamaha, which includes sponsorship payouts and bonus fees. He also had a few mishaps with the law, when he was arrested and charged with driving under the influence. But he continued to race and received a prestigious invitation to participate in the US Grand Prix in Laguna Seca.
Morbidelli is one of the wealthiest MotoGP racers in the industry, and it shows with his ongoing 2022 campaign in the Petronas Yamaha Sepang team. Although the pandemic caused a setback for a strong 2022 season start, Morbidelli and his squad remained optimistic in the racing industry.
5. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda) $3.5 Million
Pol Espargaro is a 29-year-old professional motorcycle racer with an active contract deal with the Repsol Honda team. His contract with the Honda HRC team is two years old, and he was offered $3.5 million. Before his contract with Honda, he had a deal with KTM with a $1.5 million salary and helped him become one of the wealthiest MotoGP racers in the industry.
Espargaro is a Mexican rider who had a second-place finish in the mot2 world championship behind Valentino Lotto and earned six thousand dollars every month and reports sixteen hours weekly for work. He started his career in 2006 and raced in the 125cc category. Espargaro eventually increased his riding skills and moved to the Moto2 category, where he won six titles and earned his promotion in MotoGP events.
4. Joan Mir (Suzuki) $6 Million
Joan Mir is one of the wealthiest MotoGP racers in the world and worked hard to earn it. The Spaniard motorcycle racer has a two-year contract deal with the Suzuki MotoGP team and currently has a $6 million deal in one year. His contract with Suzuki was based on his successful championship race in 2020.
Mir did not have a smooth start in his career, where he struggled to win races or podiums. He eventually had six podiums in the premier class, which also helped boost his MotoGP career. Mir is currently 4th in the championship and hoping for another win this season.
3. Maverick Viñales (Monster Yamaha) $8 Million
Maverick Vinales is a motorcycle racer from Spain and is currently under contract with Monster Yamaha. His contract with them gives him a salary of $8 million. One of the most successful MotoGP racers in the industry, he landed an extension deal that amounts to $16 million in 2020 with the Monster Yamaha team.
Vinales has an estimated net worth of $10 million from racing, sponsorships from reputable brands, and other supports. The Suzuki team joined the Yamaha team after starting their two seasons with the MotoGP team. Vinales had a $1.5 million yearly salary in the 2017 season, plus race-winning bonuses from the team. This motorcycle racer belongs to the list of top-earning MotoGP racers and has had 19 podiums and nine wins since he started in 2015.
2. Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha) $10 Million
Valentino Rossi is one of the best motorcycle riders in the industry, and he is also one of the wealthiest MotoGP racers. He is the only driver who won the championship in classes 125cc, 250cc, 500cc, and MotoGP. This Italian motorcycle racer is the only rider to compete in more than 400 Grand Prix. Rossi is now racing four-wheelers in GT World Challenge under team WRT. Valentino Rossi’s salary and endorsements helped him reach an estimated net worth of $200 million. He also earns $10 million yearly as his salary from Petronas Yamaha.
1. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) $12 Million
Marc Marquez is a professional motorcycle racer who is one of the top richest MotoGP racers in the industry. He was born in Cervera, Catalonia, Spain, and is popularly known as ‘Ant of Cervera,’ which means ‘Thunder of Cervera.’ Marquez has an estimated net worth of $40 million and a salary of $12 million under the Repsol Honda team. He also receives $2.5 million from various supports. This Spaniard motorcycle racer has 6 MotoGP titles, which makes him a very successful MotoGP in history.
Final Thoughts
MotoGP is the most prestigious sporting event for motorcycle racers. It involves many racing teams that develop top-earning MotoGP racers in the world. These riders went through many training and exercises to win races, which helped them become successful and wealthy athletes in the sporting industry. This list may inspire others on how to be successful with hard work and determination.
