Bagnaia-Ducati arm wrestle: which number to use in MotoGP?

Pecco Bagnaia and Ducati, or rather the current MotoGP rider and constructor title holders. The 26-year old Italian and the Borgo Panigale manufacturer are gearing up for 2023 but, before taking on their rivals, they need to iron out one important detail, or rather, which number will appear on the factory Desmosedici?

Pecco & the red bike: affection or necessity

---

Bagnaia won the reigning class title with number 63, as you know. And he won big, working hard to make up 91 points to Fabio Quartararo after crashing out at the German GP. While the Frenchman and Yamaha smiled, Pecco and the red bike were doing everything except laugh.

Then came the fight back Historic. An emulation, in some ways, of Giacomo Agostini’s feat aboard the MV Agusta when he won the 1972 500 title and one that goes down as an indelible page in the international history books. Fantastic, and so it should be remembered in the right way.

And how to do this, if not by flauning the number 1 plate?! The brand’s intention is to do just that, given that we’re talking about the only number that cannot be reserved or used by anyone other than the championship winner. But the rider seems set on 63, “his” 63. But is it a question of merchandising or affection?

 The red bike with number 1 only with Stoner

---

Casey Stoner raced in 2007, and how he raced! The Australian, who almost came to the court by chance, dominated the championship and powered the beautiful but ill-tempered Desmosedici to the top. An achievement by both rider and bike, and one commemorated in 2008 with the number 1.

Yes, because the number 27 rider won the first of two (rider's) titles that year, the constructor too. Then, as you know, the kangaroo went on to do it again with Honda in 2011, while Ducati had to wait until 2022, despite the factory having secured the constructor’s title on no less than four occasions in the meantime.

But here we’re talking image, and only the bike of the rider who beats them all can tell of the classification. If #GoFree were to use the number 1, then even the outside world would receive the message – Pecco and Ducati are world champions. If not, then those in the business of selling shirts and caps will profit. But this is just our own opinion of course.