Gallery: all the retired numbers in MotoGP

In recent years, the riders’ number has become more than just a number and represents something like their personal brand. More and more people give up wearing the #1 when they are proclaimed world champions, a trend made fashionable by Valentino Rossi and that Lorenzo or Márquez, among others, have repeated.

But the Italian, in 2002, was not the first champion of the queen category to give up such a precious number. In 1977, Barry Sheene defended the 500cc crown he had won a year earlier, but the Brit chose to do so wearing the #7 that made him famous.

The #69 of the ill-fated Nicky Hayden was another number to be added to a list of legendary driver numbers that can no longer be worn.

In 2016, after the lamented death of the Majorcan pilot Luis Salom, it was announced that his number (#39) was going to be withdrawn, a fact that, officially, has not yet occurred and, therefore, cannot be included in this list. . The same procedure followed the death of Jason Dupasquier, who lost his life last June (wearing number 50).

Finally, the retirement of Valentino Rossi in 2021 also meant the retirement of his bib number, as a sign of respect and admiration on the part of motorcycling after the nine emblematic world titles.

The news sparked a controversy in the world championship paddock and divided the two-wheeled fans, with fans who are not entirely in agreement with the decision made by the championship due to some old statements by the Italian in which he renounced the removal of his bib.

Others, on the other hand, demand that ‘Il Dottore’ have the recognition it deserves after having become a world icon of motorsports and motorcycling.

Let’s review the numbers that have been excluded from the MotoGP grid and to whom they belonged.

The images of the retired numbers in MotoGP

#3. 4

1 / 15

Photo by: Dave Dyer

kevin schwantz

2 / 15

The American was the first pilot to see his number removed. He barely won a 500cc title, but his charisma made the #34 a world symbol.

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

#74

3/15

Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Daijiro Katō

4 / 15

The talented Japanese driver was his country’s great hope for the first title in the premier class. However, he lost his life in an unfortunate accident in the first race of the season at Suzuka in 2003 and Dorna decided to honor him by retiring his #74.

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

#65

5 / 15

Photo by: Ducati Corse

Loris Capirossi

6 / 15

Perhaps the case of the Italian is the one that raised the most comments at the time. Champion of 125 and 250, his third title came after a controversial action on Tetsuya Harada in the last race.

Photo by: Crescent Suzuki

#48*

7/15 _

*Solo and Moto2

Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Shoya Tomizawa

8 / 15

The Japanese was the first winner of the first Moto2 Grand Prix in Qatar 2010. That same season in Misano he lost his life run over in the race.

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

#58

9/15 _

Photo by: Team Gresini

Marco Simoncelli

10 / 15

Simoncelli was 250cc champion in 2008. In MotoGP he already had two podium finishes and was aiming high, but a crash in Sepang 2011 cut SuperSic’s trajectory short.

Photo by: Team Gresini

#69