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.
It's on for the #1 plate! ⚔️🏆🌶️#MotoGP2025 pic.twitter.com/ZaaNkGvvjg
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) November 19, 2024
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.”
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.
The decision has been made! 😎 Both our World Champions will sport the Number 1 plate this season! #ForzaDucati #MotoGP #WorldSBK pic.twitter.com/TytpVUijNM
— Ducati Corse (@ducaticorse) January 23, 2023
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
That smile!!
— Matthew Birt (@birtymotogp) November 17, 2024
Always a pleasure to call home a MotoGP World Champion and even more so for a 1st timer. Managed to blag a decent seat for his 1st press conference as numero uno. Congrats, Jorge Martin. 🔥🔥🍾🍾🏆🏆 #MotoGP pic.twitter.com/EHYsmYrQmL
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.
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