Official FIM 2011 Provisional MotoGP Rider List - Not So Provisional At All

By David Emmett | Mon, 24/01/2011 - 12:54

Below is the "provisional" MotoGP entry list issued by the FIM. Given the cost and complexity of a MotoGP entry, it should be regarded as anything but provisional, as all of the names are confirmed, and no new entries are expected, despite rumors that other manufacturers may make a surprise return.

No. RIDER NATIONALITY TEAM MACHINE
1 JORGE LORENZO SPA YAMAHA FACTORY RACING YAMAHA
4 ANDREA DOVIZIOSO ITA REPSOL HONDA TEAM HONDA
5 COLIN EDWARDS USA MONSTER YAMAHA TECH 3 YAMAHA
7 HIROSHI AOYAMA JPN SAN CARLO HONDA GRESINI HONDA
8 HECTOR BARBERA SPA ASPAR TEAM DUCATI
11 BEN SPIES USA YAMAHA FACTORY RACING YAMAHA
14 RANDY DE PUNIET FRA PRAMAC RACING TEAM DUCATI
17 KAREL ABRAHAM CZE CARDION AB MOTORACING DUCATI
19 ALVARO BAUTISTA SPA RIZLA SUZUKI MotoGP SUZUKI
24 TONI ELIAS SPA LCR HONDA MotoGP HONDA
26 DANI PEDROSA SPA REPSOL HONDA TEAM HONDA
27 CASEY STONER AUS REPSOL HONDA TEAM HONDA
35 CAL CRUTCHLOW GBR MONSTER YAMAHA TECH 3 YAMAHA
46 VALENTINO ROSSI ITA DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM DUCATI
58 MARCO SIMONCELLI ITA SAN CARLO HONDA GRESINI HONDA
65 LORIS CAPIROSSI ITA PRAMAC RACING TEAM DUCATI
69 NICKY HAYDEN USA DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM DUCATI
MotoGP
Ducati
Honda
Suzuki
Yamaha
Alvaro Bautista
Andrea Dovizioso
Dani Pedrosa
Hector Barbera
Jorge Lorenzo
Valentino Rossi
Karel Abraham
Nicky Hayden
Ben Spies
Colin Edwards
Hiroshi Aoyama
Randy de Puniet
Toni Elias
Casey Stoner
Loris Capirossi
Marco Simoncelli
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Comments

Good to see Lorenzo with 1
I miss the old days when you could see 1 to 4 (not nec. in that order) in a photo and know that it was close racing between the best from the previous year.
Chris

I agree, it's nice to see the #1 plate again, but it's also nice to have a change every now and then and have someone stay true to their number, because I honestly can't blame them (him).
For me personally, a number should stay with you you're whole career, regardless of being champion or not, but that's up to you. The only problem is you change your number, then someone else might pick your number for that year and your hooped the next if you want to go back to your original number.
Also, to me, it seems like only the season's champion should change their number. They are the cream of the crop! It seems like when someone changes it to 2 or 3, it's like 'Hey, look at me! I'm good, too!', but really, do you want to go the whole year reminding everyone and yourself that were only second? Or third?
But those are just my views.

"World" Championship?

Spanish = 5
Italian = 4
American = 3
British = 1
French = 1
Czech = 1
Japanese = 1
Australian = 1

Fairly good representation of where the money comes from to fund rides and the championship.

Still, could probably stand to lose a few of Spaniards ;-)

5 spanish riders in Mgp and 5 brit riders in SBK, but ive never read anyone complaining about them being too many.

SBK ''world'' championship

GBR=5
ITA=5
ESP=3
FRA=2
AUS=1
JPN=1
CZE=1
IRL=1 (Almost counts as the 6th)

So, its much the same, although i never read anyone complaining about nationalities in SBK.

Why cant people just enjoy the show???

No one's complaining. Just pointing out where the money comes from that supports the championship and how that is reflected in rider selection.

It's interesting to look at the numbers in this way, as I'm sure in a few years you may see a shift when new money from emerging economies comes in. I.E. India....

There is one British rider this year and he is there partly on talent, but mostly because of BBC money.

That's racing.

It normal to get so many spanish and italian riders when you consider how intensely popular is motorcycle racing in those countries. So the funding comes naturally.
Over "bike crazy" countries, it's gonna be a very big deal when Indonesia is gonna get a top level rider.

On the other hand, it is pretty odd that the US have 3 riders! I think the MotoGP audience in this country is very little (proportionnaly). And not only Hayden, Edwards or Spies but also Schwantz are largely unknown (outside of the motorcycle addicts community) in their own country.
Of course the US have a pretty long list of top level riders but it must be pretty weird to be more famous or even appreciated in Italy/Europe than in your own country...

And there is the curious case of Japan, main motorcycle manufacturer for decades, great passion for the sport but very few top riders, and too many left us too soon.

I hope, for one, that Randy will get some of his early 2010 form back to tame the red beast!

You're very right about American viewership, I wear my marlboro ducati hat everywhere (Go Nicky!) and only once have I been stopped in the past approaching-3-years I've been wearing it, because some guy thought it was the Formula 1 Ferrari hat, and when I corrected him, he said "Oh yeah I've heard of motogp!".

But I think that the US fans of motogp/WSBK/AMA are fanatics, just look at how quick the Nicky 848 sold out. I think Yamaha would do well to get a Spies limited edition out on the showrooms, just after he gets a win or two and a recognizable livery apart from Rossi's.

In terms of TV broadcasting here in the states, there's really only one "racing" channel, that's sadly been the defacto Nascar channel for the past few years.

Yea it is strange we have so many riders in MGP but I'm so happy for it. I fear there will be a day when we might not be so fortunate. I think there are also a lot of us Yanks cause we have so much personality (Edwards) and we're the biggest ( I think) consumer of top end motorcycles.
Too bad our coverage sucks. I think if there was more advertising or exposure over here it would really catch on. I tell freinds about it and when I show them they're pretty blown away.
As far as Spanish riders are concerned, who cares? Its too bad it can't just be the best riders in the world but that nationality has to play a part (Elias). Its not the Olympics (though if it was that might be pretty cool too). But the good part about MotoGP, imo, is that you don't have to be a fan based on nationality. I'm a huge Stoner fan and I really like watching Rossi, Dovi, and Elias.

If i remember correctly, the US GPs have sometimes been broadcasted on large channels such as Fox in 2009 (what about 2010?) and ABC earlier.
Living in the US I've enjoyed Speed quality a couple of times before I've found a better solution...how come there is never any motorsport on ESPN? Laguna Seca or Indianapolis on ESPN could potentially have a huge effect on america tvsport addicts.

ESPN doesnt want to pay for the broadcasting rights. And why would they? They make a killing with 3 of the 4 "Big 4" MLB, NBA, NFL, (NHL is on Versus cable now, and how I miss the iconic "Hockey Night on ESPN" music. No joke, it used to send shivers down my spine as a kid. Its that good) do extremely well with NASCAR, throw in some PGA and tennis matches, add in the Winter and Summer X Games (BTW Im at the Winter X games an an alternate this year, GO ME! Sorry for the cheap plug), an occasional pro bowling match and you make plenty of money. They dont have time to build an audience with the blood money Im sure Dorna and InFront would want from them. Yes, they would raise the price if ESPN decided to bid on them. If the US was REALLY an important market for them, they would do better than 1 cable channel that isnt in as many homes as ESPN is. Many vs every.

I wrote them emails almost weekly complaining about the lack of coverage of motorcycle racing. They dont cover the AMA/DMG series, and they occasionally show MX or SX once in a blue moon. But I never saw an uptick in the coverage or received an email back. So I gave up. Probably easier to make billions and buy the network than it would be to get them to put in more motorsport.

Both Ducati and Honda have 6 bikes each on the field, why does Yamaha have only 4? Why arent any teams like Aspars using yamaha? answers please!

Motorcycle racing in Spain ranks behind soccer in popularity so for North American readers behind the NFL. It isn't just MotoGP that is popular Trials is very popular. I watched TVE after Pedrosa won the 250cc championship he was given 8-10mins of exposure on the national broadcaster. Reminds me of the story Eddie Lawson tells when he won his first championship it made the front page of the Upland Times...................... :-)

Only 17 riders? With injuries and crashes a rookie on a moped could conceivably score points in every race. Any indication that they'll stop giving points to 15th place and make it top 10 scoring only?

I also noted that there no Canadians in any classes this year... just saying...