(Photo: Ducati Corse)

Dorna's statistician, Dr. Martin Raines, divides GP history into two periods: “The Classic Era” from 1949 through the 1975 season, and “The Modern Era” beginning in 1976 and continuing to the present day.

This division is based on the fact that the era of four-stroke domination ended in 1975 when Giacomo Agostini (Yamaha) defeated Phil Read (MV Agusta) in a season-long battle. Read scored more points than Agostini (96 to 84) but, under the points rule of the day, only half the races plus one counted toward the title and, therefore, on the basis of each rider’s best 6 results from ten races, Agostini on the Yamaha won 84 to 76. In 1976 MV no longer ran a true factory team, but did loan their 500s and 350s to Agostini who ran his own team. 'Ago' scored two wins that season with the MV, one in each class, but they were 'sayonara wins.' There would not be another 500 win or podium or even point by a four stroke (in spite of Honda’s best efforts with the oval-piston NR500 V4 during their 1979-1980 attempt) until the premier class was renamed MotoGP and 990cc four strokes were allowed to compete with 500cc two strokes in 2002 and 2003. As of 2004 two strokes were banned.

So, record-by-record, here is where Rossi stands in the GOAT wars:

GP World Championship Titles in All Classes (1949 to Present)

1.Giacomo Agostini 15
2. Ángel Nieto 13
3. Mike Hailwood 9
Valentino Rossi 9
Carlo Ubbiali 9
6. John Surtees 7
Phil Read 7
8. Geoff Duke 6
Jim Redman 6
10. Mick Doohan 5
Anton Mang 5

Comment: This one will probably never be broken unless riders once again begin to race in more than a single class per season. Asked about whether he would ever consider racing in Moto2, Rossi said, “I would at least have thought about racing MotoGP and 250cc in the same season, but Moto2 is crazy!”

Total Wins in All GP Classes (1949 to Present)

1. Giacomo Agostini 122
2. Valentino Rossi 105
3. Ángel Nieto 90
4.Mike Hailwood 76
5. Mick Doohan 54
6. Phil Read 52
7. Jim Redman 45
8. Max Biaggi 42
Toni Mang 42
10.Casey Stoner 40
11. Jorge Lorenzo 39
Carlo Ubbiali 39
13. John Surtees 38
Dani Pedrosa 38
15. Jorge Martinez 37
16. Luca Cadalora 34
17. Geoff Duke 33
18. Eddie Lawson 31
Kork Ballington 31
20. Luigi Taveri 30

Comment: This record looked to be in jeopardy when Rossi was winning with Yamaha. Now it looks like Agostini's 122 wins spread over two classes (350cc and 500cc) will stand for a long time. In former times riders sometimes entered all three classes not just at a single meeting, but for an entire season. Hailwood once won in 250, 350, and 500 all in a single day at Assen. Doubles were common as well. However, seasons were shorter. With 18-race seasons, a rider like Stoner or Lorenzo might have a shot, but it is unlikely.

Premier Class Wins (1949 to Present)

1.*Valentino Rossi 79
2. Giacomo Agostini 68
3. Mick Doohan 54
4. Mike Hailwood 37
5. *Casey Stoner 33
6. Eddie Lawson 31
7. Kevin Schwantz 25
8. Wayne Rainey 24
9. Geoff Duke 22
John Surtees 22
Kenny Roberts 22
12.Freddie Spencer 20
13.Barry Sheene 19
14. Wayne Gardner 18
* Jorge Lorenzo 18
16. Álex Crivillé 15
*Dani Pedrosa 15
18. Max Biaggi 13
Randy Mamola 13
20 Phil Read 11
*Rider currently active in MotoGP

Comment: Doohan seemed headed for Ago's record until his crash at Jerez in 1999. Rossi had it fairly easy with Honda in the beginning and would probably have broken Ago's record earlier if he hadn’t complicated his life by switching to Yamaha. He has not won now since Malaysia 2010. Just how high he leaves this record is the question. Right now win number 80 looks very difficult. Of current riders, Stoner and Lorenzo are the most likely to challenge Rossi’s record, but it would mean that one or the other would have to put up several dominant seasons -- and the fact that they are contemporaries will make that harder that it was for Rossi who had several 'easy' seasons, though never with the machine advantage of Agostini with MV from 1968 until 1973. Ironically it was Agostini, who, after losing his title to teammate Phil Read in 1973, went to Yamaha and eventually became the first ever 500cc champion on a two stroke in 1975.