Valentino Rossi’s racing number is 46.
Rossi used number 46 throughout his motorcycle Grand Prix career, from his early 125cc seasons through his retirement from MotoGP at the end of 2021. The number came from his father, Graziano Rossi, who had raced with it, and it became one of the most recognisable symbols in motorcycle racing.
Champions were traditionally entitled to display number 1 in the following season, but Rossi kept 46 even after winning titles. He sometimes placed a small number 1 on his leathers or motorcycle, while retaining 46 as his public racing identity. The choice also reflected his admiration for Japanese rider Norifumi Abe, whom he followed as a teenager.
Rossi’s 46 was formally retired from the MotoGP class at the 2022 Italian Grand Prix, the first Italian round after his two-wheel retirement. That means current riders cannot use 46 in MotoGP, although the number remains associated with Rossi’s nine world championships and his nickname, “The Doctor.”