Alex Barros

Lore & Background

Barros started racing motorcycles at age eight, winning his debut in the Brazilian minibike championship. He was twice Brazilian moped champion, won the Brazilian 50cc title in 1981, and the Brazilian 250cc title in 1985. In 1986 he debuted internationally in the 80cc class, lying about his age to race at the Spanish Grand Prix at 15. He finished 16th in the championship with six points. In 1987 he raced 80cc again, finishing 17th with eight points. In 1988 he made his first 250cc World Championship race, scoring no points, and was 3rd in the Latin American circuit. In 1989 he finished 18th in the 250cc World Championship with 30 points. In 1990 he became the youngest rider to join the 500cc class at age 20, finishing 12th with 57 points. His first podium was third in the Netherlands in 1992. In 1993 he joined Suzuki, had his first victory in Spain, and finished sixth in the championship. In 1996, 2000, 2001, and 2002 he finished fourth in the championship. His win at Mugello in 2001 was the latest by a rider other than Valentino Rossi until 2009. In 2002, the first MotoGP year, he scored 204 points and won at Motegi and Valencia. In 2004 he finished fourth again. In 2005 he won in Portugal. In 2006 he moved to Superbike World Championship with Klaffi Honda, paying £100,000 of his own money. He took podium finishes at Phillip Island, a second and fourth at Monza, and his only WSBK win at Imola, finishing sixth in the championship. He returned to MotoGP in 2007 on a Ducati GP7 for Pramac d'Antin, coming third at Mugello and fourth at Istanbul Park. After retiring from MotoGP, he continued racing in the Brazilian Superbike Championship, winning the 2016 final on a BMW S1000RR. He formed the BMW Motorrad Alex Barros Racing Team. In 2020 he won the Superbike Master Senior class, and in 2021 the Superbike PRO Master class. In 1999 he and Tadayuki Okada won the Suzuka 8 Hours on a Honda RC45.

Reader's Guide

Alex Barros is a Brazilian former Grand Prix and Superbike racer. He raced in 500cc from 1990 to 2001 and in MotoGP from 2002 to 2005 and 2007. He won seven races in 500cc/MotoGP and one in Superbike World Championship. He is known for his longevity, with 276 MotoGP starts, and for winning the Suzuka 8 Hours in 1999.

Did You Know?

• Barros was the youngest rider in history to join the top motorcycling category (500cc) at age 20 in 1990.
• Barros won the Suzuka 8 Hours in 1999 with Japanese teammate Tadayuki Okada on a Honda RC45.