Let’s admit it every time we see # 46 we automatically associate it to Valentino Rossi or # 21 to Troy Bayliss, so a rider’s racing number is not only a trademark or a merchandising gimmick, but it also becomes an emotional attachment that has accompanied a rider during his career and in some cases it’s just plain superstition.
Two riders who will be debuting in the Superbike championship, Eugene Laverty and Maxime Berger are both forced to change their racing numbers in 2011.
Laverty’s #50, which has followed him in the last nine years of his career, is currently being used by Sylvain Guintoli, so the Irishman will be using #58, while Supersonic’s Maxime Berger will have to use #121, as number 21 was retired after Troy Bayliss retired from racing.
Talking about the change Laverty said, “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.
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.
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