P110
CN III LOWSIDE
BY RENNIE SCAYSBROOK
Bagnaia's move to the num-
ber one is great for the sport,
because
it gives an identity to
the hierarchy. These are the fast-
est riders in the world, and I feel
one
should be rightly proud of
rising to the top. It also gives the
team who got them there a few
bragging rights in a sport where
performance is so clearly linked
to confidence and self-belief.
The number one was last
seen during Casey Stoner's final
season in MotoGP with Repsol
Honda back in 2012. Prior to that
(and from 1970) it was Jorge
Lorenzo in 2011, Stoner again
in 2008, the late Nicky Hayden
in 2007, Kenny Roberts Jr. in
2001, Alex Criville in 2000, Mick
Doohan from 1995-1999, Kevin
Schwantz in 1994, Wayne Rainey
between 1991-1993, Eddie Law
-
son (1990, 1989, 1987, 1985),
Wayne
Gardner in 1988, Freddie
Spencer (1986, 1984), Franco
Uncini (1983) Marco Lucchinelli
(1982), Kenny Roberts (1979-
1981), Giacomo Agostini (1976,
1973, 1972, 1971, 1970), and
Phil Read (1975, 1974).
The first person to refuse the
champion's number over the last
50 years was famously Barry
Sheene, the British 1976-1977
World Champion who stuck with
his iconic number seven through
thick and thin. This was an age
when riders didn't normally run
one number across their entire
career. Most would run the posi
-
tion they finished in the champion-
ship the year prior, which probably
wasn't
a fun time if you were a
T
he build-up on social media
has been relentless from
MotoGP, Ducati Corse and
Francesco Bagnaia himself. Will
the new MotoGP king run the
champion's number during the
2023 season?
As it turns out, yes, he will.
And I, for one, am so happy
he will. Bagnaia's factory Ducati
will have a glorious number one
emblazoned across its front end,
and it will be the first time we've
seen it in MotoGP in more than a
decade.
The Italian, clearly a bit of a
purist, has bucked the (in my
opinion) annoying trend of riders
using their own personal num
-
ber, regardless of the fact they
happen to
have won the biggest
prize in motorcycling.
THE
NUMBER
ONE IS
BACK
It's all about being
number one in racing
and everyone now
knows who the
champion of MotoGP is.
