Aoyama explains number change.
With the #4 he t🍎ook to 250cc title victory already in the hands of Andrea Dovizioso in MotoGP, Hiroshi Aoyama will switch to the #7 for his debut season in the premier class.
The new number, made avail🐼able in MotoGP for 2010 following Chris Vermeulen's return to World Superbike, was inspired by late Japanese grand prix hero Daijiro Kato.
Kato was Japan's🌜 last 250cc world champion before Aoyama and tipped ꦚto be the country's first premier-class champion.
With the #4 he took to 250cc title victory already in the hands of Andrea Dovizioso in MotoGP, H🌞iroshi Aoyama will switch to the #7 for his debut season in the premier class.
The new number, made available in MotoGP fಌor 2010 following Chris Vermeulen's return to World Superbik♐e, was inspired by late Japanese grand prix hero Daijiro Kato.
Kato was Japan's last 250cc world champion befor🦋e Aoyam🐟a and tipped to be the country's first premier-class champion.
The 17 time 250cc rac♚e winner finished second in only his third MotoGP race, riding a 500cc Gresini Honda, and again later in the season when given one of the new 990cc RCV four-strokes.
But Kato's potentia💛l went tragically unfulfilled when he lost his life during the first race of his second premier-class season, at Suzuka in 2003. As a mark of respect, his #74 🐻was retired from MotoGP soon after, but Aoyama can at least use one of the digits.
"My favourite number is Daijiro Kato's #74," Aoyama told mahbx.com. "This year in 250 I was using the #4, from Kato's number, and next year in Moto💮GP I will use the #7. I will keep the #7 from now on."
Meanwhile, fellow 250cc wor🔯ld champion and 2010 MotoGP rookie Marco Simoncelli confirmed that he will stick with the #58, despite running with a 'T' during winter testing.
"The 'T' is just for testing. I'm not changing my number," the Italian confirm🤡ed.
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years aဣnd has seen Valentino⛄ Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
