Francesco Pecco Bagnaia is officially a meritorious citizen of Pesaro. “This is my home”
At the Scavolini Auditorium, the official ceremony of awarding the recognition wanted by the mayor of Pesaro Matteo Ricci and by the Municipal Council of the Municipality of Pesaro. «An extraordinary pilot, who grew up in our Valentino Rossi's team and who has chosen to live in Pesaro for many years.” We all rejoiced for his extraordinary victory which brought Italian motorcycling back to the top of the world after so many years.” says the mayor ” Bagnaia is a great talent, grew up under the guidance of Valentino Rossi: the greatest ever, in our territory which confirms itself as the Land of Pilots and Motors. Citizenship is the right recognition for a champion who chose to live in Pesaro and a way to further strengthen our communication and tourism strategy for the city ».
Two MotoGP world titles, one in the Motorcycle 2, «he is a great talent, a beautiful person, with his feet on the ground and knows that he has to work hard every day – so Ricci –. Like us provincial people, who has to run more than the others to get there, but remaining humble". Arrived ten years ago in Pesaro, Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia, which was then told in an interview with the Sky Sport journalist Mauro Sanchini, he says «I love this city, I love the people of Pesaro, I have everything here. When I say "I'm going home" for me it's now Pesaro. Thank you".
«Very young, chasing his childhood dream of becoming a motorcycle racer, he moved to Pesaro in “Land of pilots and engines” it's here, flanked by the myth Valentino Rossi and also supported by the enthusiasm of the city which considers him a Pesaro in all respects, is preparing to realize the dream. The objective was achieved at the end of a wonderful season by winning the title, in the premier class, of World Champion for more on an Italian motorbike afterwards 50 years of absence of an extraordinary pairing.
A victory that once again brings the name of Pesaro sport to the world and honors the “Land of pilots and engines”».
These are the reasons with which the City Council decided to award meritorious citizenship, unanimously approving the proposal that the mayor Matteo Ricci had launched last November 2022, after winning the first world title.
«The city embraces Pecco, his champion – states president Marco Perugini –. The unanimous yes at the meeting demonstrates how great the pride of having Pecco in Pesaro is. We waited a year to hand over the deserving citizenship - he jokes - because we knew he would win the second title in the premier class".
In the council resolution for the recognition assigned to "citizens residing in Pesaro who with concrete works, also in the field of sport, have benefited the city in any way, making its prestige higher", I'm: “Grew up in Chivasso, begins to get noticed in the Minimoto and MiniGP categories, of which he became European champion in 2009.
In 2010 runs in the Mediterranean championship 125 PreGP, finishing second.
In 2011 It is in the 2012 takes part in the Spanish speed championship, finishing third overall, first in the class 125 and then in the Moto3 class, obtaining a race victory in each season. He made his debut in the world championship in 2013 in Moto3, in 2017 he moved to Moto2 with the SKY Racing Team VR46.
In 2018 wins the Moto2 world championship, becoming the team's first driver Sky Racing TeamVR46 to win a world title. In 2019 debut in Moto GP, in 2021 moves to the official Ducati team, ending the season in second place 26 points from champion Fabio Quartararo on Yamaha.
In 2022 he won the title of World Champion, becoming the second Italian to win a title in MotoGP, 13 years after the last one conquered by Valentino Rossi, bringing the title back to Ducati afterwards 15 years and also becoming the fourth Italian to win the world championship in the premier class with an Italian motorbike 50 years after the last time.
Taking into account that he moved to Pesaro some time ago, supported by the legend Valentino Rossi and also supported by the enthusiasm of the city which considers him a Pesaro in all respects, and that with winning the title, in the premier class, as World Champion has strengthened the name of Pesaro sports, that remains and we underline it there “Land of pilots and engines”: a heritage to care for!
