What was the minimum age for Bike GP racing?

[ghinzani]

I know Barros told lies to race at 15 in the mid 80s but when was the age lowered to the now 15 and what was it before? We are getting to the stage that kids in their early 20s are getting into 3 figures for GP starts nowadays. It gives them a big advantage in the record books - what was Loris agewise when he started? Is his soon to be 299 at the end of the season the record?

[Bleu]

15 is the age when you can start at 125cc. 16 years is the minimum for 250cc and 18 for MotoGP. I tried to find out when the current MotoGP riders had started there as a regular - some of them were younger when making their debuts as a wildcard rider.

Pedrosa 15*
Dovizioso 16
de Puniet 18
de Angelis 16
Elias 17
Melandri 15*
Kallio 19
Rossi 17
Capirossi 17
Lorenzo 15

About others, after wildcard race at 15 in 125cc, Stoner became regular of 250cc in 2002 before moving down to 125cc in 2003 for two years. Then one year again in 250cc and then to MotoGP.

Other drivers haven't been regulars in all three classes.

Riders with asterisk turned years during the season.

[Bleu]

I list some of the top 250cc riders as well
Lüthi 16*
Bautista 18
Talmacsi 19*
de Rosa 18
Barbera 15
Simoncelli 16
di Meglio 15
Pasini 18*

[ghinzani]

Nice work Bleu - my Talma was in 125s a long time, only forced out by the 28 years old ruling this season.

[Bleu]

I was very surprised that Talmacsi stayed in 125 after his championship. Aspar should have done deal for Faubel and Talmacsi as they were fighting for title: winner takes spot in 250.

I think Talma (-81) may have been allowed to ride this year as Nieto (-80) rode last year before quitting for good.

[2000yellow360]

Hopkins was the youngest to start in the 500s, I think he was 18 at the time. You can start in the AMA at 16, so that would be about right.

Art