Friend of MGPNews Jorge ‘our boy’ Martin has made all MotoGP fans smile by deciding to race the number one plate on his Aprilia in 2025 before it’s handed back to Ducati at the end of the season.
The Spaniard usually races with the number 89, which coincidentally is the number of times he punched the poster of Gigi after discovering that Ducati had chosen Marc Marquez over him, but thankfully has switched to the premier number allowing us to see it on the Aprilia that has in no way earned it.
Better still Jorge’s ‘numero uno’ is displayed on the Aprilia in gold to help emphasise his superiority – something we at MGPNews appreciate.
However given that ‘Number 1’ universally means you’re the best (and not related to Randy Mamola) it seems logical that any rider would punch their granny in her saggy neck at the chance to race with the championship number? But no, in fact since 2007 only on six occasions did the champion race with the number one.
Why? Here’s our list of reasons:
Branding Over Bragging
Why flaunt the universally recognized badge of mass-superiority when you can stick to your own quirky little pointless digit? Real success in MotoGP isn’t about winning races; it’s about building a brand. Who’s ever heard a fan chant “Go, number 1”? They chant, “Go, uhh… what’s his number again?”
Humility. Obviously.
Motorcycle champions, such as Carl Fogarty, are known for their modesty and unprovocative haircuts. None of them want to rub “I’m better than all of you” in the faces of their competitors when they can subtly remind them by gluing a replica championship trophy to their motorhomes’ dashboard.
Superstition: Because Logic is Overrated
Humanity in 2025 has managed to create such wonders as Starlink, AI and the fitted bedsheet. Given this plateau of intelligence, it stands to reason that professional athletes would rely on skill, data, and preparation. Not really. Instead they’re all massively superstitious. One out-of-routine event and the spooked rider is forcing a black cat to walk backwards around the room to cancel out the evil omens.
Motorcyclists cling to their numbers like a lucky rabbit’s foot, convinced that swapping it for a 1 would instantly invoke a season of catastrophic lows leading to a Honda factory ride.
Merchandising: The Real Race
Let’s not forget in these troubling times riders have to sell T-shirts, hats, keychains and phone cases to survive. Why gamble on the short-lived number 1 when you’ve already got warehouses full of Chinese-child made merch plastered with your signature number?
The “It’s Been Done” Excuse
The number 1 plate is so overdone. Everyone from Wayne Rainey to Mick Doohan has used it, and MotoGP champions are nothing if not trendsetters. Why follow tradition when you can be different? Staying with your own number is the rebellious, edgy choice that says, “I’m unique… just like everyone else.”
Joan Mir and the Mandela Effect
According to Wikipedia Joan Mir won the 2020 Covid MotoGP championship but no one is actually sure if that’s true.
Despite this in 2021 Mir, still riding for Suzuki, attempted to use the number one plate on his bike. However, after some frantic franticness, Dorna officials told Joan to switch back to his regular 36 number as everyone was becoming confused and a little scared.
As low as you go? Is number 1 the lowest race number?
You can’t go lower than a number 1 plate in motorsport right? Wrong!
In 1993 and 1994 average British F1 driver Damon Hill was forced to use the number 0 on his Williams car. Why? Interestingly it had nothing to do with the number of people who thought he was better than Michael Schumacher – instead it was due to F1’s rules of the numbers 1 and 2 being used by the team with the world champion. However in both 1993 and 1994 the world champion had left the sport meaning Williams were forced to use the numbers zero and two.
Over the Hill. 'Not very good' Damon goes from zero to zero
In 1993 Alain Prost was so against having the zero that he said that if he were given it he’d organise a pitlane protest and somehow involve blocking up the Calais ferry port.
