Joan Mir has decided to continue with the number 36 this season
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Reigning MotoGP World Champion Joan Mir has chosen to keep his traditional number 36 instead of taking over number one.
Mir and Suzuki have been teasing fans for weeks that Mir would make his decision today (February 12), leading to speculation that he would herald the return of MotoGP number one.
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That is not the case, however, and the 36 will stay on Mir’s Suzuki this season as it seeks to keep the crown.
“The decision has been made … I woke up one day and just decided that the number would be the same as always, the faithful, the 36,” explained Mir in the announcement video. “I think it would have been really great to use number one, it would have been a unique experience and a dream, but I believe 36 is the number that I worked hard with and it got me where i’m now winning two world championships!
“I also considered that my job is not over yet. I have to work with this number more than ever to win more titles and have more chances of deciding which number to drive next season. For the time being, me already had the chance and decided to keep 36. “
The Suzuki rider went on to suggest that his decision for 2021 does not mean that he would automatically say no to number one in the future should he win more MotoGP titles.
The number one was last used in MotoGP by Casey Stoner in 2012, with the Aussie also taking the opportunity in 2008. Jorge Lorenzo switched to the number of the champion in 2011 while Nicky Hayden also used the number one on his Repsol Honda in 2007