Toprak and Martin will race with the coveted #1

BMW and Aprilia Unveil 2025 Machines with Reigning Champions Sporting the Coveted #1 Plate.

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BMW and Aprilia Racing have both revealed their machines and lineups for the 2025 season, with a notable surprise for each team, as reigning champions from last year will be proudly displaying the coveted #1 plate on their bikes, marking their return to defend their titles.

In the World Superbike Championship (WSBK), BMW launched their 2025 machine, the M 1000 RR, in Berlin, with Toprak Razgatlioglu, who dominated last year’s season, showcasing his bike adorned with the #1 plate. The Turkish rider claimed the championship last year and is returning as the favourite to secure another title. 

However, Razgatlioglu is aware that the new regulations in WSBK could affect his bike’s performance, but his goal remains clear, to successfully defend his title, something he was unable to do in 2022 with Yamaha. “Everyone will see the number one on my bike. In general, I am happy. It looks like we are ready to start the season. I hope that we can achieve a lot of success this year,” said Razgatlioglu.

Meanwhile, in MotoGP, Jorge Martin will also be wearing the #1 plate as the reigning champion. The Spanish rider made his debut with Aprilia Racing after clinching the 2023 MotoGP title. Martin will ride the all-new RS-GP 25, featuring the prestigious number, which was revealed at Aprilia’s launch event, held at the Sky Italia studios in Italy. 

This makes Aprilia the second team to unveil its 2025 colours, following Trackhouse two days prior. The #1 plate has been a rare sight in MotoGP, with only a few riders choosing to run it in the past, such as Nicky Hayden, Casey Stoner, and Jorge Lorenzo, who donned the number after his 2011 title. Martin, however, will be the first to wear it since Francesco Bagnaia’s successful defence of his title in 2023, which marked the first #1 defence since 1998.

Though Martin had been non-committal about whether he would use the #1 plate, his decision to wear it seems fitting, given the significance of the title defence. Martin’s teammate, Marco Bezzecchi, will keep his #72 for his debut season with Aprilia. 

As both BMW and Aprilia gear up for the 2025 season, all eyes will be on the defending champions, each aiming to retain their position at the top of their respective championships.