Ben Spies will revert back to his favoured number 11 when he moves to the MotoGP world championship in 2010.
Spies opted to run 19 in his rookie World Superbike campaign because factory BMW rider Troy Corser was using number 11.
But with Spaniard Alvaro Bautista already having number 19 for his move to MotoGP with Suzuki’s factory team next year, Spies will run the number 11 on his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YZR-M1 machine. Motorcycle News
Spies said: “I want to thank Yamaha globally for their faith in me, they have treated me like royalty.”
He added: “Yamaha just recently allowed me to rethink my contract for 2010-2011; I did sign for Superbikes for 2010 but I began thinking of the competition and my age and waiting until 2011.”
“This was not an easy decision, the Yamaha World Superbike Team crew have been fantastic and it’s been great fun to put in a season together.”
“I am hoping that I can give everyone else a championship to remember this year with me.” The Press Association
It will be the first full-time ride in MotoGP for Spies, who was born in Tennessee but has lived in Longview, Texas. The 25-year-old has been driving in the Superbike series this season and is second in points after winning 12 of 24 races. Four races are left on the schedule.
Spies was a wild-card rider in three MotoGP races last season including a sixth-place finish at Indianapolis. USA Today
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