The 2021 MotoGP™ eSport Championship is ready to kick into gear with the Pro Draft penciled in to start in March. But before then fans will have their say on which famous rider and bike from the past will be selected for the year’s first Online Challenge.
There will be a total of three groups consisting of legendary names from the 1990s and 2000s, both epic eras in MotoGP™ history. And there will be three votes.
The first was on 3rd February, when Mick Doohan and his 1995 Honda NSR500 got the most votes over 24 hours to be entered into a final draw.
The same will occur for the second vote – held on 5th February, and including four famous names and bikes from the late 90s / early 2000s – and for the third – to happen on 8th February and to be contested between four legendary MotoGP™ names and bikes from the first decade of the 21st century.
The most popular names from each of the three votes will then go head-to-head in a final vote on 10th February. Whichever rider/bike gets the highest number across the social media channels will then be the combination gamers must use in the first Online Challenge.
The names included in the second group include five of the fastest names from the end of the 20th century/start of the 21st century. The choices include: Max Biaggi and his 2002 Yamaha M1 990cc; Alex Criville’s 1999 Honda NSR500; Alex Barros and the 2002 Honda RCV; Garry McCoy and the 2000 Yamaha YZR500.
Cast your votes across all of our social media platforms including YouTube MotoGP, YouTube MotoGP eSport, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!
Max Biaggi: Best known for his four titles in the 250cc class, Biaggi was also a brilliant MotoGP™ rider on his day. He won his first race in the 500cc class at Suzuka, 1998 and pushed the great Mick Doohan hard in that year’s championship. Three years later he went head-to-head with Valentino Rossi in an epic year-long fight. In 2002 he scored two race wins on the first generation of Yamaha’s M1.
Number of MotoGP™ starts: 127
Number of MotoGP™ race wins: 13
Number of MotoGP™ championships: 0
Alex Criville: This softly spoken figure will always be remembered as Spain’s first ever premier class race winner and champion. Criville sharpened his teeth fighting against – and occasionally beating – the illustrious Mick Doohan in the mid-90s. When the Australian was forced out by injury in 1999, the Spaniard was perfectly placed to take over. Six wins that year was enough to carry him to championship glory.
Number of MotoGP™ starts: 193
Number of MotoGP™ race wins: 20
Number of MotoGP™ championships: 1
Alex Barros: The Brazilian was one of the most evergreen figures in MotoGP™ history, holding down a place on the grid for an incredible 17 seasons. In that time he scored seven wins. Never was he more competitive than the end of 2002, when he was handed a Honda RC211V for the final four races. In that time he fought – and beat – Valentino Rossi at the Italian’s peak.
Number of MotoGP™ starts: 245
Number of MotoGP™ race wins: 7
Number of MotoGP™ championships: 0
Garry McCoy: Few riders in the history of the MotoGP™ have been as exciting to watch. McCoy’s unique style, which saw his slide the rear tyre almost to excess on corner entry and exit, made him an instant fan favourite. McCoy really came into his own in 2000, when he scored three stunning race wins while smoking a load of Michelin rear tyre rubber along the way.
Number of MotoGP™ starts: 80
Number of MotoGP™ race wins: 3
Number of MotoGP™ championships: 0
