Over the last few years, the MotoGP riders have made their respective numbers into real brands, an identifying sign with which to make themselves perfectly recognizable and which, rarely, are changed.
Ever since Valentino Rossi gave up racing with the number 1 destined for the 2002 world champion, many have followed that trend. The last to use the number 1 in the top 2-wheeled motorsport series was Casey Stoner in the now distant 2012. Ben 10 years ago.
In general, the numbers of the 2022 MotoGP riders will have the same numbers as last year, even if there will be 5 rookies and the Gresini team, which left Aprilia to become an independent team that will field Ducati Desmosedici.
The numbers of the drivers for the 2022 World Championship
Why do the pilots have the numbers listed above? Here are the reasons:
- Andrea Dovizioso: he began his MotoGP career with 34, also winning the 125 world title with that number. He was forced to change it because the 34 of his idol Schwantz was withdrawn, so he opted for the 4. But wanting a double number, he preferred to precede it with 0. Hence the 04 he has used since Ducati’s first year.
- Johann Zarco: uses the 5 in honor of his former manager, Laurent Fellon, when he was racing in the 80s. Although he debuted with the 14 in the world championship, he has not let go since he was able to catch it ..
- Luca Marini: Rossi’s brother originally wore 97, the year he was born, but when he got a permanent position in Moto2 in 2016 Xavi Vierge got and opted for 10, the day he was born.
- Maverick Viñales: The rider from Roses (Girona) finished number 25 in the world championship, but changed to 40 in Moto2 for commercial reasons. In MotoGP he recovered his original number, but in 2019 he decided to wear 12 because he beat Marc Márquez as a child.
- Fabio Quartararo: El Diablo he didn’t complicate things and took the day he was born, the 20th.
- Franco Morbidelli: Before the world championship he ran with 12, but as he was busy he decided to combine his favorite numbers in reverse and took 21.
- Enea Bastianini: the Beast found his usual 33 occupied by Brad Binder in MotoGP, so the closest available was 23.
- Takaaki Nakagami: The Japanese made his debut in the 125 class with the 73, but then opted for the 30 which was awarded to him in the Red Bull Rookies Cup and stayed with it.
- Brad Binder: His original number was 41, but when he arrived in MotoGP he discovered it was worn by Aleix Espargaró and chose 33 because it remembers his initials (BB).
- Joan Mir: his cousin Joan Perelló wore the 36 in the World Cup and uses it for him.
- Aleix Espargaró: His idol as a child was the Japanese rider Youichi Ui, who wore the 41. In 2006, in 250cc, being busy, he had to temporarily choose the 42 and in MotoGP he made his debut in the 44 for his brother Pol.
- Álex Rins: When he started running he used 14, but then he moved on to 24. In 2008 that got caught and he reversed it. It was only in 2016 that he had to wear the 40 for commercial reasons.
- Jack Miller: When he was racing in motocross as a child he was given the number 543. Three digits are not allowed in speed racing, so he dropped the five. With 43 he won the 125cc IDM in 2011, but when he arrived at the Moto3 World Championship he was busy and opted for the 8. When he made his MotoGP debut Héctor Barberá had it and went back to basics.
- Pol Espargaró: his favorite number is Alex Barros’ 4, but he was busy at the World Cup and decided to wear it twice, 44.
- Pecco Bagnaia: His original number was 21 in Moto3, but in Moto2 he was busy and multiplied it by two, 42. In MotoGP neither was available and he added another 21.63.
- Alex Márquez: In the FIM CEV he raced with his favorite number, 23, but when he debuted in the world championship it was worn by Antonelli and changed to 12, with which he won the Moto3 title. When he jumped to Moto2 he had Luthi and 23 for Schrotter, so he subtracted his year of birth (96) minus the day (23), 73.
- Miguel Oliveira: He also liked the 41 as a child, but in a race there was no 1 and he used two 4s up to MotoGP, where Pol Espargaró wore it and doubled it, so 88 came out.
- Jorge Martín: Oliveira ‘removed’ 88 and after thinking about it she decided to add one, 89.
- Marc Márquez: The Cervera champion did not complicate things and chose his year of birth as a child.
Which numbers cannot be used and why?
In MotoGP, only one or two-digit numbers can be used. 1 is reserved for the champion if he chooses to use it and the latest available number is 9. In the past many drivers used the previous year’s ranking as their number, but this is now a thing of the past.
There are currently 5 numbers that have been withdrawn. 34 and 65 were withdrawn for Kevin Schwantz and Loris Capirossi. While the 74, 58 and 69 of the late Daijiro Kato, Marco Simoncelli and Nicky Hayden cannot be used in MotoGP either.
However, it is to be expected that 46 will also be added to the list after Valentino Rossi’s retirement.
The rest of the numbers can be used by any driver if they are not busy, and it is also allowed to change numbers from one season to another, but not within the season.
If a driver moving up, down class or racing as a wild card finds his usual number occupied, he will have to opt for a free number.
The latest world champions who used the number 1
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