Champions using the #1

Not sure if Rossi was the first guy to keep running his #46 in years after winning a championship but I think all classes should require the previous years champion to run the #1. I'm glad to see Elias running the #1. I know it has been used more stateside but I think the world GP guys should have to run it. I know if I was head of Yamaha, Honda, etc I would have written in the riders contracts they must run it if they are the champion. As a manufacturer it would be a sense of pride and accomplishment.

 

In the past 10-15 years or so, Hayden and Stoner did, Lorenzo has done both and Rossi and Marquez haven't. I don't think any successfully defended with the #1 on their bike. It isn't required and racers can be a superstitious bunch...

 

Certain racers numbers are an identify. Yellow #46 is Rossi, without a doubt. Eliza's number doesn't mean jack shit to pretty much anyone. Same with most racers around the world.

 

Many riders have "integrated" it into their regular number, but to me it just isn't the same....

 

Doohan had no issues with flying the #1...

 

The number is now a "brand". Not that I'll EVER have the chance, but I'd run the #1 if I won it. Brand be damned.

 

Elias did the opposite, he (kind of) "integrated" his number into the ace

 

That I like. Good for him.

Like mentioned above, though, I don't think Elis' number is a 'brand' as much as some of the aliens, and there probably is some superstitions involved as well.

 

Barry Sheene ran #7, the first GP rider to use his preferred number. Previous champs ran an assigned number at events, IIRC. I don't know if I've seen a picture of Hailwood with a #1 on his bike, I'll have to dig around. But Rossi specifically mentions Sheene as his influence to running his own number and promoting his personal brand. And branding has taken off from there. I think that Nicky ran #1 as that was his brand at the time, and it was a very very big deal to wrest the championship from Rossi (and Capirossi and all of the other early contenders). Plus his undiminished modesty and allegiance to Honda probably led him down the #1 path.

 

Rossie or Marquez don't need their numbers for branding. Just their name is enough.

 

I recall reading an article a while back about numbers in GP and how they were distributed in the past based on points place in the championship. The #1 rider was always the previous years champion, but #2, #3 and so on, were handed out on a race by race basis. I do believe they got away from this practice as it added confusion as to what rider was what number.

 

I would guess that the number is the one variable the rider can control, as sponsors usually dictate the color. I know that Yamaha came out with special bumblebee (Laguna, 2005?) as well as Fiat 500 livery a couple of years ago. I wonder if the NASCAR branding model would work in MotoGP?

 

The more items associated with your brand the better (without going so far as to dilute the brand). Why sell a Rossi tshirt when you can sell a Rossi AND #46 tshirt.

 

Yes, but after time spent dominating while running their ‘brand’ number.

 

Why sell one when you could sell both?

 

Johnny Rea seems to have no issues, either.
Carl Fogarty did pretty good too.