Grapevine: Lorenzo takes up right to use #1
Jorge Lorenzo says it was a "difficult choice" to take up the #1 on his Yamaha for his title defence, but that he felt it would be wrong not to use the champion's number having earned it
MotoGP title-winners can elect to stick with their traditional racing numbers, with Lorenzo's erstwhile team-mate Valentino Rossi preferring to keep his #46 even in the seasons when he was champion, but Lorenzo will switch from his usual #99 to #1 for 2011.
"I am very proud because you have to work very hard to have the option to wear it," said Lorenzo, who ran with the #1 for post-season testing at Valencia last year.
"I have been lucky with my design because the #1 works really well with my JL initials, maybe with different letters it would have been difficult to make it look right. I hope my fans will like it!
"I won't forget my #99 this season, it will be there somewhere on my leathers because #99 is in my heart. It was a difficult choice to change my number but I have earned the right for this unique opportunity to wear it."
Before Rossi's recent run of titles, 2006/7 world champions Nicky Hayden and Casey Stoner both chose to run with #1 during their title defences.
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