It is true, competitive motorcycle racing is a dangerous sport, but the salaries of MotoGP riders do match their level of risk. Their performance and record of achievements also tends to be directly proportional to the size of their bank accounts.

Leading the ranking of the better paid pilots is Marc Márquez (Honda), with a yearly salary of over 13 million euros, followed by Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) who gets close to 9 million. Behind them is Andrea Dovizioso, second in the World Championship over the last three years, with earnings of over six millions per year.

Maverick Viñales, in the middle of the grid, gets around 4 million. Meanwhile, the pilots at the bottom of the standings, among which is Suzuki’s debutant Jon Mir, hardly make a million euros. What follows is a more detailed account of the earnings of some of the most important pilots in the top speciality.

The Spanish MotoGP champion leads the best-paid list and no one can deny that he does so by his own merits. It seems that his team, the HRC Honda, would have paid him between 13,3 and 16 million euros per year.

These figures are justified by the fact that Márquez has now won his sixth world title in the top category, breaking every record on his way. His Japanese employers at least, consider it a fair retribution.

Despite his performance not having quite met expectations, Valentino Rossi has pocketed a very hefty 8,9 million euros. That is the reward you get for being regarded as one of the best pilots of all times and for having won six crowns in your career. Despite his age (he is now 40 years old), it is not surprising that he still competes with Yamaha considering his achievements.

Ducati’s head of ranks has finished the Championship in second place this season for the third year in a row. He seems powerless before Márquez’ superiority. But his defeat has probably been a bit less painful after receiving his 6,2 million euro pay check. Dovi got one of the best salaries of MotoGP riders.

Maverick Viñales gets from Yamaha approximately half the amount of cash of his Italian teammate; around 4,45 million. The Spaniard, who won in Netherlands and Malaysia, has accrued five podiums and 211 points and has finished in third position; four places and 37 points ahead of his better paid teammate Valentino Rossi.

Before the start of the year no one could have predicted Lorenzo’s fiasco in Honda. In theory, him and Márquez were going to make up the ‘dream team’ of Moto GP. With that purpose and because he is a four-time champion, Honda signed him up for 4,2 million euros. Then, the season started and reality struck. The dream became a nightmare which ended up with the retirement of #99.

A little bit further down the rank of MotoGP salaries is Danilo Petrucci. Similarly to Lorenzo’s, this season has been a resounding failure for the Italian. Petrucci won in Italy and climbed up the podium in France and Catalonia, securing his renewal for 2020. From then on, however, it was free fall. Perhaps his 2,5 million euro salary serves as motivation for next season.

Continuing with the list of 2019 blunders, we arrive at Johann Zarco. The Frenchman began the season with KTM full of excitement and high expectations. His poor performance, however, meant he had to abandon the Austrian team before the end of the year. At least he could cash in his 2,2 million euros before moving to Honda LCR at the last races of the season in replacement of injured Takaaki Nakagami.

Despite being one of the most veteran names on the grid, Cal Crutchlow is not amongst the better paid of MotoGP pilots. The Briton has earned 2,2 million euros after his podiums in Qatar and Germany. He has finished the championship in ninth position.

Suzuki has paid Álex Rins 1,8 million euros after a season full of ups and downs but which has left a good overall sensation. Rins won in the USA and beat Márquez in extremis in Great Britain. The leader of the Japanese team also managed to open the champagne in Jerez. In Holland and Germany, on the other hand, he got two zeros.

In a remarkable debut year with Suzuki, Joan Mir has earned 1.1 million euros. Rins teammate is aiming high. If he continues with his very promising progression, as he showed with his fifth place in Australia, he will soon got one of the best salaries of MotoGP riders.

Images of ‘salaries of MotoGP riders’: HRC.