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MotoGP: Ducati vs Aprilia - Two Italians fighting over the Number 1 plate, Ducati pay its price for denying Martin

Aprilia and Ducati engaged in a tussle for the prestigious Number 1 plate which is given to only championship-winning riders by the MotoGP association.

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Venkatakrishnan
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Ducati vs Aprilia

(Source: X)

The Ducati Factory team was the best team on the entire MotoGP grid as they have the most powerful machines. They beat rival teams like Aprilia, Yamaha, KTM, and Honda for three years straight now. The last dominant team other than Ducati was Yamaha when they won the championship with Fabio Quartararo in 2021.

Even the current champion Jorge Martin won his first world championship by riding a Ducati-powered Prima Pramac Racing Bike. So, it's no doubt that Ducati is the strongest player currently in MotoGP. Now Ducati has to lose the biggest asset and Marketing value to Aprilia because of one mistake they made by signing Marc Marquez.

ALSO WATCH: Marc Marquez safely delivered to Factory Ducati team after the MotoGP final

Number 1 lost to Aprilia Racing

The Number 1 plate is given to the MotoGP champion who can keep it in his bike for the following year as a token of appreciation and pride. 'The Martinator' surprised everyone by joining the Aprilia Factory racing team after riding for Ducati all these years. He and Marc Marquez were the prime contenders for the Ducati Factory seat. The Italian bike manufacturer chose Marquez over Martin as he performed very well having an underpowered GP 23 machine.

With Jorge Martin moving to Aprilia Racing, the Number 1 Plate is also slipping to Aprilia for free. Ducati Team Manager Davide Tardozzi took a swipe at Aprilia for the Number 1 Plate. He said, “If Aprilia wants to buy the number 1 plate, Let's see if they can keep it next year.” Aprilia didn't hold back they said, “I think we spent less than them for the Number.”

Also Read: Enea Bastianini slams Aleix Espargaro for helping Jorge Martin win the MotoGP world championship

Riders take Pride in the Number 1 plate

Since the start of the MotoGP era in 2002 many world champions have divided opinions about keeping the Number 1 plate which is given only to champions. Legends like Valentino Rossi (46), Marc Marquez (93), Joan Mir (36), and Fabio Quartararo (20) kept their numbers instead of Number 1 Plate even after winning the championship.

Others like Nicky Hayden, Mick Doohan, Casey Stoner, and Francesco Bagnaia switched to Number 1 plate after winning the championship. Jorge Lorenzo kept the Number 1 plate after winning the 2011 championship and switched back to his number 99 in 2013 and 2016.

Jorge Martin is the decider

Ducati doesn't want to lose the prestigious Number 1 plate slipping away from them as they won all the championships this year. But is now up to Jorge Martin whether to use the prestigious plate or not. The world champion was asked whether he would use the number 1 plate after he won the championship and he said, “What do you think? I think now it's time to celebrate the moment. I don't want to think about next year. Let's see.”

We believe Martin will take the Number 1 plate even if he doesn't like to take it Aprilia will insist on him to take it after all the brawl they had with Ducati. It is not just a prestige for them it will also add some Marketing value to the team which Aprilia needs very much to take on Ducati next year.

Also WATCH: Former MotoGP Champ Marc Marquez's most anticipated Ducati debut in Spain

MOTOGP Francesco Bagnaia Jorge Martin Ducati Aprilia Racing
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