🗣 'Having the number one can put a lot of pressure on you.' MotoGP world champion Francesco Bagnaia says he’s still undecided about using the 1 plate for his title defence in 2023, but has “always been fascinated” by riders who do:
Bagnaia, who currently runs the #63 – but in his Moto2 and Moto3 days has used #42 and #21 – admits using the #1 plate is “something I have to think about” as it is an opportunity reserved for champions – but concedes it will come with a lot of pressure.
“I’m happy that I have this kind of problem, but sincerely it’s something I have to think about a lot because it’s true that not everybody can use the number one,” Bagnaia said in Valencia during the 2023 pre-season test after the race.“I’ve always been fascinated by riders with the number one. “So, let’s see. It’s difficult to choose. For sure it’s a different think. I just hope I will have an opportunity in future years to not feel again what I felt on Sunday [in the Valencia finale], because it can be more dangerous.”When asked if he felt like a world champion yet at that time, Bagnaia added: “No, sincerely no. But I said already that I will give one week to Ducati to let me do what they want and then I will turn off my phone to think and to relax.
The last rider to have successfully defended the #1 plate in MotoGP was Mick Doohan in 1998, when he took the last of his five 500cc world titles.
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