Motorcycle Racing

The curse of number one in MotoGP

Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing

Aprilia revealed its 2025-spec MotoGP bike on Thursday, but its launch event in Milan was also significant because of an important announcement from new star signing Jorge Martin.

The Spaniard had previously been secretive about the number he was going to race with this season after beating Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia to the 2024 title, having insisted he was going to make a decision over the winter break.

But he said on Thursday that there was never any doubt that he was going to switch the #1 plate, as he took the covers off his new bike.

The ‘1’ sticker was prominently displayed on the front of his Aprilia RS-GP, although a closer look revealed that he hadn’t completely parted ways with #89.

Martin used to compete in the junior classes with his preferred race number 88, but switched to #89 upon his move to MotoGP in 2021 as his original choice was already taken up by Miguel Oliveira.

The 89 number plate eventually became a part of his image, which led to questions as to whether he would continue with it in 2025 or switch to the number reserved for the reigning champion.

Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing

Photo by: Dorna

With Martin’s decision now being made, the premier class grid will have a rider carrying number one on their bike for three consecutive years, something that has not happened in over two decades in the series. It follows Bagnaia also choosing to race with #1 on his factory Ducati following back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023.

In the last century, 500cc champions proudly wore the number one plate in the season following their title success. The last rider to carry number one was Kenny Roberts Jr, who ran it on his Suzuka in 2001 after winning the title the previous season. Prior to that, Honda bikes were adorned with that number for five consecutive seasons, with Mick Doohan racing with #1 between 1995-99 and Alex Criville following him in 2000.

This trend was ended by none other than MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi. The Italian’s debut in the top echelon of two-wheel racing revolutionised the series and brought a change of mentality. This included many cases of commercial interests being prioritised over romanticism.

After winning the last 500cc world crown in 2001, Rossi declined to switch to number one on his Honda in 2002, the first year of the new MotoGP era. This decision played a big role in making #46 a part of his brand as well as a symbol of motorcycle racing itself.

It wasn’t until…

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