Aoyama takes #7 in tribute to Kato
Added on Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
Aoyama takes #7 in tribute to Kato
Hiroshi Aoyama has revealed that he will take the number seven plate vacated by Chris Vermeulen for the 2010 MotoGP championship.
With the 250cc champion’ preferred number four already taken by Repsol Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso, Aoyama will ride number seven in tribute to former Japanese rider Daijiro Kato.
Kato, who was tragically killed in a crash at Suzuka in 2003, rode with the number 74 plate throughout his career and, having previously ridden with number four, Aoyama has opted to pick number seven to complete the tribute.
“My favourite number is Daijiro Kato’s #74,” Aoyama told Crash.net. “This year in 250 I was using the #4, from Kato’s number, and next year in MotoGP I will use the #7. I will keep the #7 from now on.”
Last year Aoyama became the first Japanese rider since Kato in 2001 to win the 250cc championship or a championship in any class.
Meanwhile, fellow 250cc world champion and 2010 MotoGP rookie Marco Simoncelli has revealed that he not be changing from his traditional#58, despite running with a ‘T’ during winter testing.
“The ‘T’ is just for testing. I’m not changing my number,” the Italian confirmed.
