MOTOGP » 2008 MotoGP entry list: Stoner #1

18 riders next year?? That's not good news.

Oww... number 1... the curse

I'm not being funny but the number 7 was retired from Grand Prix racing upon news of Barry Sheenes death. How comes Checa was using it and now Vermuelen?

I don't remember anything about the #7 being retired, hence this. Would have been a nice gesture though. Interesting to see Dovizioso take #4 though, wasn't sure if #34 being retired would carry over from 500's. Guess it has.

maybe 18 riders but after the first corner 12 of them have vanish from the camera no wonder they car't get good sponsorship. Good to see Stoner using the number 1 plate ,hope his and Rossi injury's don't play any part of 2008

Good on him, too. Hard work, talent, good bikes, good rubber deserves to be known as number 1 in the world, which currently Stoner, Ducati, Bridgestone and all other components etc, are.

Donnie, im very pleased that vermulen has got another number now because the 71 plate is KAGAYAMA'S and should stay that way even though he's in a different series, for christ sake theres anough numbers to choose from without folk having the same bloody one... anyway there has been many great riders over the years theres no real reason why sheene should keep the number 7 for alltime,,,

Remember seeing Barry Sheene when i was a little lad with my dad at cadwell park and thought i've just seen god i say no one should run number 7 , do you think any one but Rossi will get away with running number 46 in moto gp???

SLOW JOE has an excellent point. Sponsors want to see their names on TV and in the still photos in the magazines. For the last few years the media have focused so much on only a few riders that the sponsors have gotten a raw deal. The media (Eurosport and SpeedTV in particular) need to show a broader perspective, more of the mid-pack racing, and not be so taken in by the "media darlings" (we all know who the biggest one is) at the expense of the entire sport.

The conventional wisdom is that one certain clown has "broght the masses to the sport." That is not entirely true, and placing the focus on one or two individuals will do some very serious long-term damage to the sport as sponsors say, "what's the use? I can get far more results for my money elsewhere." So the long-term "clown effect" will be to hurt the sport. This is not a good thing, despite the cutesy little show.