Spanish Grand Prix: A look back at 40 years of MotoGP in Jerez

The Jerez-Ángel Nieto circuit hosts the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend. MotoGP for the 40th consecutive year. Since its inauguration in 1987, the Andalusian circuit has never been absent from the calendar of the discipline, making it the second most faithful circuit of MotoGP, after Assen and its 71 consecutive events from 1949 to 2019.

In total, however, 41 Grands Prix have been held there in the premier category, thanks to the two consecutive races organized in 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic. Brno is the only other circuit to have hosted more races, with a total of 45 events organized despite several interruptions.

Japanese domination

Among the manufacturers on the grid, Honda has particularly distinguished itself in Spain. With 22 MotoGP victories, including 10 in the last 25 races held at this circuit since the start of the modern era, the Japanese factory is the most successful in Andalusia. Its most recent victory, however, dates back to 2019, when Marc Márquez was crowned winner of a race he had started from third on the grid.

Behind Honda, another Japanese manufacturer holds the record for the most victories at Jerez. Yamaha follows its rival with 10 wins, nine of which date back to after 2002. Valentino Rossi He signed four for Iwata (2005, 2007, 2009, 2016), Jorge Lorenzo three (2010, 2011, 2015), and fabio quartararo two in 2020.

Jerez bound! 🔜

Saddle up for the iconic #SpanishGP🇪🇸! ✊#MotoGP pic.twitter.com/mIYDwL8B5i

- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) April 20, 2026

Ducati, for its part, boasts six victories, a record that is constantly improving: Loris Capirossi paved the way in 2006 from pole position, followed by Jack Miller in 2021 for his second premier class win, then Francesco Bagnaia became a three-time winner of the Spanish Grand Prix (2022, 2023 and 2024). Finally, Alex Márquez secured his first MotoGP victory there in 2025.

Borgo Panigale also shone in the Sprint races held at Jerez, thanks to the more recently introduced weekend format. Bologna boasts two victories there, thanks to Jorge Martín's prowess in 2024 and Marc Márquez's in 2025. However, the first Sprint race of the Spanish Grand Prix went to KTM, with Brad Binder's victory in 2023.

While KTM and Aprilia have never secured a victory at Jerez, Suzuki boasts two triumphs there. The Noale factory, currently dominating the category, will have a prime opportunity to reverse this trend in 2026, given the current dominance of its factory riders, Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martín. The Italian manufacturer's best result so far at Jerez has been a third-place finish, thanks to Aleix Espargaró's performance in 2022. The Catalan rider also secured a pole position for the brand in 2023.

France in Jerez

Fabio Quartararo remains the undisputed French benchmark at Jerez. The 2021 world champion secured his first two victories in the premier class there, winning both races held in 2020. The rider from Nice also boasts four podium finishes – the most recent being a second place last year – as well as a record five pole positions, the last of which also dates back to 2025.

But where Quartararo truly shone in Jerez was during qualifying. The Yamaha rider secured pole position there four times consecutively from 2019 to 2021. It was also at this circuit that he became the youngest pole-sitter in the history of the sport, at just 20 years and 14 days old. He repeated the feat last year, with a fifth pole position at the track.

Johann Zarco's history with the Jerez circuit isn't as illustrious, although he does have a MotoGP podium finish at the Spanish Grand Prix, securing second place there in 2018. More recently, his record at the track has been less impressive. The rider from Cannes retired from the circuit between 2022 and 2024 before finishing eleventh in 2025, in a race that directly preceded his victory at the French Grand Prix.

ALSO READ > The schedule for the Spanish MotoGP Grand Prix