The curse of number one in MotoGP

Aprilia revealed its 2025-spec MotoGP bike on Thursday, but its launch event in Milan was also significant because of an important announcement from new star signing Jorge Martin.

The Spaniard had previously been secretive about the number he was going to race with this season after beating Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia to the 2024 title, having insisted he was going to make a decision over the winter break.

But he said on Thursday that there was never any doubt that he was going to switch the #1 plate, as he took the covers off his new bike.

The ‘1’ sticker was prominently displayed on the front of his Aprilia RS-GP, although a closer look revealed that he hadn’t completely parted ways with #89.

Martin used to compete in the junior classes with his preferred race number 88, but switched to #89 upon his move to MotoGP in 2021 as his original choice was already taken up by Miguel Oliveira.

The 89 number plate eventually became a part of his image, which led to questions as to whether he would continue with it in 2025 or switch to the number reserved for the reigning champion.

With Martin’s decision now being made, the premier class grid will have a rider carrying number one on their bike for three consecutive years, something that has not happened in over two decades in the series. It follows Bagnaia also choosing to race with #1 on his factory Ducati following back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023.

In the last century, 500cc champions proudly wore the number one plate in the season following their title success. The last rider to carry number one was Kenny Roberts Jr, who ran it on his Suzuka in 2001 after winning the title the previous season. Prior to that, Honda bikes were adorned with that number for five consecutive seasons, with Mick Doohan racing with #1 between 1995-99 and Alex Criville following him in 2000.

This trend was ended by none other than MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi. The Italian’s debut in the top echelon of two-wheel racing revolutionised the series and brought a change of mentality. This included many cases of commercial interests being prioritised over romanticism.

After winning the last 500cc world crown in 2001, Rossi declined to switch to number one on his Honda in 2002, the first year of the new MotoGP era. This decision played a big role in making #46 a part of his brand as well as a symbol of motorcycle racing itself.

It wasn’t until 2007 that number one returned on the grid, courtesy of Nicky Hayden’s success with Honda – incidentally in a title battle against Rossi – the year prior. 

Casey Stoner also chose to switch to number one after winning his first title with Ducati in 2007. 

Rossi’s success in 2008-09 with Yamaha meant that #1 disappeared again, but his team-mate Jorge Lorenzo brought back the famous number plate in 2011. Stoner also raced with number one in his final year in MotoGP in 2012 after winning his second title with Honda in 2011.

Valentino Rossi, Honda

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

The curse of #1

Hayden, Lorenzo and Stoner – twice – had raced with number one on their bikes but none of them were able to defend their titles.

The #1 plate fell out of favour and even Lorenzo chose to stick with #99 following his next two title triumphs in 2012 and 2015.

Marc Marquez won six titles in seven years between 2013 and 19, but remained loyal to #93 throughout his golden era in MotoGP. Joan Mir, the 2020 champion, and 2021 title winner Fabio Quartararo were also not tempted to run number one on their respective bikes.

MotoGP had to wait until 2023 to see #1 on the grid again after Bagnaia chose to go down that route. Bagnaia, of course, is a member of the VR46 Academy run by Rossi, a rider who was never in favour of carrying that number.

Bagnaia won the 2023 title with the ‘1’ sticker on his Ducati, becoming the first rider since Doohan to break the curse associated with that number. 

Perhaps that is what convinced Martin to ditch 89 for 1 on his arrival to Aprilia from Pramac. Plus, having left Borgo Panigale in favour of a move to Noale, the Spaniard must be aware that such an opportunity may not arise again for him in MotoGP.