Loris has taken part in about 40% of all GP events ever, he is the youngest ever world champion. A 3 time world champion, a winner of some legendary individual races, a great guy and a leader for safetey in the sport.
#65 to be retired
- Thread starter bonnielass
- Start date
Joined Oct 2006
3K Posts | 197+
Living the dream in Scotland
I don't have a problem with retiring numbers, in the pre Rossi era, most folk ran their ranking number, with a few notable exceptions like Sheene, Spencer and Schwantz. Watch footage of Doohan Rainey etc, different number every year depending on their ranking. Personally, I'd lie to see more folks go back to that. It also makes it easier to recall what year a pic was taken.
Joined Oct 2006
3K Posts | 197+
Living the dream in Scotland
Yes numbers aren't all about sentimental value anymore. Dani Pedrosa used to run his ranking then suddenly went back to the 26, i suspect that was an idea within his PR/merchandising team. Lorenzo is the same, he ditched the number he used to ride through the ranks and then selected his new number with a magazine competition in Spain
Joined Oct 2006
3K Posts | 197+
Living the dream in Scotland
Nah, it was just easy when doohan was racing, everything just had #1 on it
Except for the years that he ran a number 2 or number 4.
Joined Apr 2011
1K Posts | 87+
Pangea
His number was given to him by Puig when he was competing in the spanish 125cc championship....Pedro was given the number 26 at the same time.
Joined Oct 2006
3K Posts | 197+
Living the dream in Scotland
Joined Oct 2006
3K Posts | 197+
Living the dream in Scotland
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
I guess its stupid ignorant comment's like this that make it look like you have only followed the sport since the end of 06
He has 3 titles numbnutts
How old are you then pov ?
If we are going to retire numbers based on their minor league careers, lets go ahead and retire Biaggi's number, Pedrosa's number and throw in Cadalora's for good measure. The sports landscape is littered with cant miss prospects who had mediocre careers playing against the big boys, and 9 wins, and zero titles in 14 seasons of big boy racing is mediocre.
125 and 250 might not mean anything to you but there very important in europe, in a lot of cases more important that motogp class.
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
Yea, and college football is very important in the US, in a lot of cases more important than the NFL, so the NFL should retire Tim Tebow's number when he is finished. One of the greatest college football players ever, super nice guy, fans adore him, but is mediocre against the best of the best. I didnt get GP retiring Schwantz's number, i sure as hell dont get this one. Honors like this should be for the elite, when you start handing out honors like Halloween candy, it loses a lot of its meaning.
If anyone deserves their number retired it's Loris, anyone debating that obviously has not seen Loris' impact on the sport, that is their loss. Whether or not retiring numbers generally is appropriate is a different matter
Joined Mar 2005
7K Posts | 20+
Woody Creek
The way I see it, Loris has his commitment to safety improvements, his lengthy career, and his lower class achievements. I don't see the first two as reason enough to retire his number. And numbers have been retired in the lower classes, perhaps his number should be retired in Moto2 or Moto3.
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