Lorenzo set to take number one plate

Added on Monday, January 24th, 2011 by Carole Nash Editor

Jorge Lorenzo has provisionally taken the number one plate for the 2011 MotoGP season, in place of his current number 99.

As the provisional rider entry list was released today by the FIM, the defending champion was listed as number one for the new season, making it the third number that he will have used in the premier class in four years.

The number one plate is reserved for the defending MotoGP champion although it is not compulsory and some riders, including 2009 champion Valentino Rossi, have chosen to keep their usual number in previous years.

At the end of the season, Lorenzo had yet to decide whether to take the number one plate or to stick with his current 99, which has played a large part in Lorenzo’s personal branding since 2009. The Spaniard changed from number 48 to number 99 in 2009 following a split with former manager Dani Amatriain.

British rider Cal Crutchlow will provisionally ride with number 35 whilst Czech rider Karel Abraham will race with number 17. The only current rider to change number other than Lorenzo is Hector Barbera, who switches from number 40 to number eight.

MotoGP Provisional Entry List 2011:

Num	Rider	Nat	Team
1	Jorge Lorenzo	SPA	Yamaha Factory Racing
4	Andrea Dovizioso	ITA	Repsol Honda
5	Colin Edwards	USA	Monster Tech 3 Yamaha
7	Hiroshi Aoyama	JAP	San Carlo Gresini Honda
8	Hector Barbera	SPA	Aspar Ducati
11	Ben Spies	USA	Yamaha Factory Racing
14	Randy de Puniet	FRA	Pramac Ducati
17	Karel Abraham	CZE	Cardion AB Ducati
19	Alvaro Bautista	SPA	Rizla Suzuki
24	Toni Elias	SPA	LCR Honda
26	Dani Pedrosa	SPA	Repsol Honda
27	Casey Stoner	AUS	Repsol Honda
35	Cal Crutchlow	GBR	Monster Tech 3 Yamaha
46	Valentino Rossi	ITA	Ducati
58	Marco Simoncelli	ITA	San Carlo Gresini Honda
65	Loris Capirossi	ITA	Pramac Ducati
69	Nicky Hayden	USA	Ducati