Lorenzo set to take number one plate
Added on Monday, January 24th, 2011 by Carole Nash Editor
Lorenzo set to take number one plate
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 |








