Grapevine: Vermeulen to race with number seven

Vermeulen has previously used 71 as his race number because Carlos Checa was already running with the number seven, but Checa's departure from the MotoGP field has allowed the Australian to finally adopt his preferred number.

Sheene, who won the 1976 and 1977 500cc titles, advised Vermeulen earlier in his career.

"I am really pleased to have secured the number seven on my bike for 2008," said Vermeulen. "Barry was a huge influence on my career and I always had it in my mind to one day race a Suzuki with the number that he made famous on it - I just hope that I now have the same success that he enjoyed.

"It was an honour for me to ride his bike at a demonstration event in England a couple of years ago and then to have the retro livery on my bike at Phillip Island last year that was also inspired by one of Sheene's bikes was just awesome, so for me to now compete with the number seven is like the icing on the cake.

"It has been over 30 years since Barry won his second world title and I will be doing all I can to make sure that I follow in his footsteps and make it my lucky number seven as well."

Vermeulen will start his third full season of MotoGP with Suzuki this year, having taken his maiden win at Le Mans in 2007.