Bagnaia equals Schwantz with 25 victories in the premier class

Francesco Bagnaia’s (Ducati Lenovo Team) victory in the 2024 Austrian GP was a sign of something much more important than just 25 points in a campaign that has been incredibly stylish so far.

Pecco’s seventh win of the year – his equal-best season total – saw the #1 rider regain a points lead over Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) heading into Aragon. Furthermore, Bagnaia now has 25 premier-class wins, meaning the Italian is now equal with MotoGP™ Legend Kevin Schwantz.

“These are crazy numbers, it’s a great emotion,” the reigning world champion told Sky Sports MotoGP™ of the draw with the American great. And with nine races left in 2024, it’s not inconceivable that Bagnaia could catch more Legends before the curtain falls on this season.

Eddie Lawson and Dani Pedrosa each have 31 wins to their name in the all-time tally table, so if the World Championship leader wins six of the next nine Sunday outings he will put his name alongside two other greats. That will, of course, be a tough ask.

On a more distant horizon, Mike Hailwood’s 37 wins and Casey Stoner’s 38 would be the next targets, with Bagnaia having already surpassed Stoner’s 23 wins with Ducati earlier in the season. Furthermore, Bagnaia is also within reach of equalling – or surpassing – the Australian’s incredible 10 wins from the double world champion’s incredible 2007 season with the Bologna marque.

Below is the list of all-time Premier Class victories. Bagnaia’s name on that list cements the three-time World Champion among the very best we’ve ever seen racing Grand Prix motorcycles. But the 27-year-old isn’t done yet – far from it.

Valentino Rossi: 89
Giacomo Agostini: 68
Marc Marquez: 59
Mick Doohan: 54
Jorge Lorenzo: 47
Casey Stoner: 38
Mike Hailwood: 37
Eddy Lawson: 31
Dani Pedrosa: 31
Kevin Schwantz: 25
Francesco Bagnaia: 25