Laverty to give up number 50 plate
Added on Friday, December 24th, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor
Laverty to give up number 50 plate
Eugene Laverty has been forced to give up his traditional number 50 plate for the 2011 season.
The former World Supersport rider, who has used the number 50 for the past nine years, has been forced to give up the number for his debut season, which is currently used by Suzuki’s Sylvain Guintoli.
The Irishman, who has taken Cal Crutchlow’s place at Yamaha, will instead ride with the number 58 plate next season, although the 24-year-old claims that he had no emotional ties to the number.
“I don’t have an emotional attachment to it, but I do feel it has been very significant in my career so far, and for that reason I am a bit sad to be parting with it,” he admitted.”I don’t have a choice, but I did have a choice in choosing my new number, 58.”
“I like it because it’s probably the nearest you can get to 50. I’m sure I’ll go back to it when I get the opportunity. This year Sylvain has it but I’d definitely like to get it back as soon as I can.”
Laverty first used the number 50 in 2002 during his debut in the British 125cc Championship, and has used it ever since.
Laverty competed in World Supersport on the Parkalgar Honda CBR600 in 2009 and 2010. His best results with the number were achieved in 2009 and 2010 in World Supersport, when he notched up 12 wins and twice finished championship runner-up on the Parkalgar Honda.
While competing in the 250cc MotoGP Championship in 2008, Laverty rode as a wildcard in World Supersport, substituting for the injured Fabien Foret; he took second and third in those races.
