Pesaro: Francesco Pecco Bagnaia is officially a meritorious citizen of the city.

Red Cloud is now red and white cloud. Francesco Pecco Bagnaia is officially a meritorious citizen of Pesaro.

At the Scavolini Auditorium, the official ceremony for the awarding of the recognition desired by the mayor of Pesaro Matteo Ricci and the municipal council of the municipality of Pesaro. «An extraordinary rider, who grew up in our Valentino Rossi's team and who has chosen to live in Pesaro for many years».

Two MotoGP world titles, one in Moto 2, «he is a great talent, a nice person, down to earth and knows that he has to work hard every day – so Ricci –. Like us provincial people, who have to run more than others to get there, but remain humble." Francesco "Pecco" Bagnaia arrived in Pesaro ten years ago, and then spoke about himself 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".

«At a very young age, pursuing his boyhood dream of becoming a motorcycling rider, he moved to Pesaro in “Land of pilots and engines” and here, flanked by the myth Valentino Rossi and also supported by the enthusiasm of the city which considers him a Pesaro in all respects, he prepares to realize his dream. The objective was achieved at the end of a wonderful season by winning the title, in the premier class, of World Champion, moreover on an Italian motorbike after 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 the meritorious citizenship, unanimously approving the proposal that the mayor Matteo Ricci had launched last November 2022, after the conquest of the first world title.

«The city embraces Pecco, its 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 that he would win the second title in the premier class ».

In the council resolution for the recognition assigned to "citizens resident in Pesaro who with concrete works, even in the field of sport, have benefited the city in any way, making its prestige higher", they are: "Growing up in Chivasso, he begins to become notable in the Minimoto and MiniGP categories, of which he became European champion in 2009.

In 2010 he raced in the 125 PreGP Mediterranean championship, finishing second.

In 2011 and 2012 he took part in the Spanish speed championship, finishing in third place, first in the 125 class 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 he won the Moto2 world championship, becoming the team's first rider Sky Racing TeamVR46 to win a world title. In 2019 he made his debut in Moto GP, in 2021 he moved to the official Ducati team, closing the season in second place, 26 points behind 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 won by Valentino Rossi, bringing the title back to Ducati after 15 years and also becoming the fourth Italian to win the world championship in the premier class with an Italian motorcycle 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 the victory of the title, in the premier class, of World Champion has strengthened the name of the Pesaro sport by honoring the “Land of pilots and engines”.