What number will Pecco Bagnaia choose for the season, the year of defense of the MotoGP title? “I changed my mind several times…”
The sample MotoGP in office still does not want to unbutton. I’m sorry Bagnaia he continues to act mysterious, but the presentation is almost there now Ducati for 2023 and the mystery will then be revealed. What will be the race number of the Piedmontese driver, will he stay with his 63 or will he go as far as trying the so feared number 1? Will Bagnaia go so far as to use the number that not even her mentor wanted, or will she continue with the two digits used so far? On January 23rd the troop in red will be a Our Lady of Campiglio for the official presentation, third team to open the dances after Yamaha (tomorrow) and Gresini Ducati. Then Bagnaia will probably take it fateful decision and we will know more.
Bagnaia with that number that no one wants?
The use of the sample number of the world is now increasingly rare. If we look at the MotoGP, from 2002 to today there are only two cases”exceptional” who have chosen it. Casey Stoner he had no hesitation, nor when he took the crown with Ducati nor when he conquered the second iris with Honda. The second who wanted to put the 1 on his Yamaha has been Jorge Lorenzo. For all the others, however, that number was absolutely out of the question. Valentino Rossiwith its large number of titles, never wanted to know about changing its iconic 46. The same goes for Marc Marquezwho never abandoned his 93 for the number 1. Until the most recent: Joan Mir2020 champion, restarted with 36 in 2021, too Fabio Quartararo he held onto his number 20 in the year he defended the MotoGP championship. And I’m sorry Bagnaia what’s he going to do? “I have changed my mind several times in the last few months” he confessed in an interview with ‘Che Tempo Che Fa’, a Rai program hosted by Fabio Fazio. “At first I wanted number 1, after the holidays I wanted number 63… I’ll decide on Tuesdaywhen we will take the photos for the presentation.”
MotoGP presentations, all dates
January 17: Monster Energy Yamaha (Fabio Quartararo-Franco Morbidelli)
21 January: Gresini Racing MotoGP (Fabio Di Giannantonio-Alex Marquez)
January 23: Ducati Lenovo Team (I’m sorry Bagnaia-Enea Bastianini)
25 January: First Pramac Racing (Johann Zarco-Jorge Martin)
January 26: KTM Factory Racing (Brad Binder-Jack Miller)
February 25: Repsol Honda Team (Marc Marquez-Joan Mir)
March 4: Tech3 GasGas Factory Racing (Pol Espargaro-Augusto Fernandez)
March 10: Aprilia Racing (Aleix Espargaro-Maverick Vinales)
March 16: RNF MotoGP Team (Miguel Oliveira-Raul Fernandez)
TBC: LCR Honda (Alex Rins-Takaaki Nakagami)
TBC: Mooney VR46 Racing Team (Marco Bezzecchi-Luca Marini)
