The goal when playing any great racing game is to be the quickest person on the track, and MotoGP 20 is no different. Whether the objective is going fastest over a single lap in time trials or fighting through the field in a race, the fastest racer is usually using the best equipment.
No matter the talent of the rider, if a bike is slower than the rest then it will always be a challenge to come out on top. That means knowing which bikes can carry their riders to victory is almost as important as knowing how to ride them, although getting the best out of each one is another skill entirely.
10 KTM RC-16: Tough To Control With A Lot Of Potential
The RC16 may not seem like much on the surface. It struggles to break the 200mph barrier on even the longest straights in the game and is unwieldy under heavy braking, but if you prefer racing to time trials then that won't matter anywhere but on the most power-sensitive circuits.
Learn to keep the bike under control during corner entry and the RC16 will come alive. With its excellent mid-corner stability and even better traction as you apply the throttle during corner exit, this is a bike made to fight for overtakes in the corners. A future version of this bike with better power and more stability under braking could easily be at the top of this list, but for now, the RC-16 remains the weakest bike on this list.
9 Honda RCV211V (2002): Plenty Of Power, Not Enough Traction
The 2002 RCV211V is one of the best of the historic 4-stroke bikes included in MotoGP 20. Its ability to remain steady under braking from high speeds and its good agility through the corners mean it is fast on almost every track.
That excellent handling is boosted by the powerful Honda engine that produces stunning straight-line speed that can be used to set up overtakes into the braking zone. However, the lack of traction control can make the bike difficult to control as you exit the corners. This regularly costs riders time down the straights, which is why this bike doesn't rank higher on the list.
8 Honda NSF250RW: The Fastest Way To Learn
Despite being a Moto3 bike, there is no denying the speed of the NSF250RW. It may lack the power seen in MotoGP 20's other categories of racing, but its ability to carry speed through corners makes it the fastest Moto3 bike in the game.
Its small engine also means new riders don't need to worry about popping a wheelie every time they pull on the throttle. This makes it the perfect bike for players to start with, especially if they don't have experience with the MotoGP series or other racing titles (some genre entries are more newcomer-friendly than others). The only downside to that small engine is that compared to bikes from the Moto2 and MotoGP categories, the NSF250RW lacks overall speed, which does hold it back from being considered the best.
7 Yamaha YZR-500 (2001): A Classic All-Rounder
The YZR-500-01 of Max Biaggi is undoubtedly the best all-rounder of the historic 500cc bikes featured in MotoGP 20. One look at the leaderboards in the game's time trial mode makes that abundantly clear, as nearly every track features this bike in the top ten times posted.
Boasting strong straight-line speed and agility through the corners, this is a bike made to top the timing sheets. While some of the other historic 500cc bikes featured in MotoGP 20 might come close to matching it on certain tracks, none are as consistently quick as this Yamaha. Despite its age, this bike is still a strong performer.
6 Kalex Moto2: Junior Category Bike, Senior Category Speed
It would be easy to forget that any other Moto2 bikes feature in MotoGP 20. That's how good the Kalex Moto2 is. 11 of the 15 official Moto2 teams featured in the game run Kalex bikes, making it difficult not to ride one at some point in the game's career mode (despite the fact you may never have heard of it before).
The Kalex Moto2 has an incredibly adaptable setup, making it well-suited to every track in the game. It is so strong, in fact, that it occupies the top ten slots at every track for the Moto2 category in the time trial mode. The only thing holding this bike back on this list is the fact it was made for the junior racing series, Moto2, which means it lacks the outright pace of the other bikes in the game.
5 Honda RC213V (2012): A Strong Option That Is Tricky To Master
The first iteration of Honda's mighty RC213V is done justice by MotoGP 20, with a representation of the bike that is just as fast as the real thing. Despite having slightly twitchy handling in the corners, the bike still handles beautifully if you avoid overworking the front-end.
Keep it under control and the bike will reward you with an almighty engine. Boasting great top speeds and excellent acceleration, the 2012 Honda RC213V is an excellent option for racing in the historic 4-stroke category. The only thing that stops this bike from competing with the very best is the quirky handling that makes it so difficult to master.
4 Suzuki GSX-RR: Nimble But Slow On The Straights
The Suzuki GSX-RR may have taken Joan Mir to the 2020 MotoGP World Championship in the real world, but it didn't do that by being the fastest bike in a straight line. Fortunately, this is a bike that is agile beyond belief, meaning any time lost on the straights can easily be won back in the corners.
While its weak engine means it isn't the best bike on every track, slipstreaming other riders can compensate for this and help a rider get the most out of this bike when racing it on circuits with long straights. Always try to take the GSX-RR to a track like the Circuito de Jerez, where handling is the most important factor, and it will make any rider untouchable.
3 Ducati Desmosedici GP20: Unbeatable Italian Horsepower
The Desmosedici GP20 has the highest top speed of any bike in MotoGP 20, easily surpassing 210mph wherever the straights are long enough. It then combines that incredible speed with enough downforce to remain stable under braking, creating a bike that is unparalleled on the straights.
Straight-line performance isn't everything though, and any rider hoping to get the best from this Ducati will have to be able to keep its somewhat lumbering frame steady through the corners. Because of this cornering trouble, the GP20 can struggle against more nimble bikes and rarely features on time trial leaderboards. Still, its raw speed makes it a force to be reckoned with on race day.
2 Honda RC213V (2020): The Fastest On Track If It's Under Control
The 2020 RCV213V is the only bike capable of keeping pace with the Ducati Desmosedici GP20 on the straights. Unlike the Ducati, though, this Honda can handle corners without trouble, allowing its rider to compete for the win on any track.
However, any prospective rider should be aware that the RCV213V is sensitive to heavy braking, with a tendency to understeer if you push even slightly too hard. Don't worry, though: If you've played other great racing sims, you'll know that some tweaks to the setup and a little practice will easily compensate for any time you might lose to a difficult-to-control bike.
1 Yamaha YZR-M1: Flawlessly Fast
With a top speed of over 200mph and the smoothest handling of any bike in the game, it's no wonder you find the Yamaha YZR-M1 at the top of the leaderboards in time trial mode and the front of the pack in both online and singleplayer races.
It's the best all-round bike in the game, capable of eating up corners like they aren't even there and holding its own against even the fastest bikes along the straights. No matter the rider's level of experience, the M1's adaptability and smooth riding style can help anyone stand on the top step of the podium.