How do they pick the numbers?

[placidfemme]

I really enjoy watching bike racing, nothing quite like watching a bunch of talented riders pushing thier machines to the limits and sometimes beyond...

But something that I havn't been able to figure out is how do they pick the numbers for the bikes...

Some of the numbers go up to (and sometimes over) 100, but obviously there isn't 100+ bikes in the race...

At first I assumed that if you came 1st... you got number 1. But looking at Rossi, he's come first heaps of times and his number stays at 46...

Can anyone explain this to me please?

Thanks :rockon:

[kickingzebra]

From what I understand,
Here, you can pick whatever number you like, however, to use number 1 would be presumptuous, unless you can back it up, so most don't.
In the championship, MNZ prefer to allocate numbers, but if you are flash enough and fast enough, you normally get away with choosing your own, hence rossi's 46, jared love over here is 69 etc etc... Presumably the other guys do it too, but not as noticable, whereas slow plebes must make do with whatever.

[placidfemme]

From what I understand,
Here, you can pick whatever number you like, however, to use number 1 would be presumptuous, unless you can back it up, so most don't.
In the championship, MNZ prefer to allocate numbers, but if you are flash enough and fast enough, you normally get away with choosing your own, hence rossi's 46, jared love over here is 69 etc etc... Presumably the other guys do it too, but not as noticable, whereas slow plebes must make do with whatever.

ahhh so they get to pick then...

*would want #7* lol

[kickingzebra]

To clarify, in club racing, you can pick whatever number you like, on the provisio that if, on the day, someone has the same number as you, they can change your number.
Vic club uses transponders anyway, so numbers aren't an issue, they just help the commentator identify the bikes...
Championship, or motogp or superbike, etc are slightly different, it would look hideously un professional if two guys on different teams had the same number, so to some extent they can choose their own, but the ruling body can over rule, and choose one for you if they have to.

[ben444]

You can't choose 1-10, they're allocated to the people who finished in the the top 10 in the previous seasons championship. (nationals, motogp etc)Although they do not have to use them. Rossi prefers to ride with 46, as that was his fathers race number, and seems to be working for him. But since Rossi is champion, no one is allowed to ride with number 1. If hayden wins this year, most likely he'll ride with number 1 on his bike next year.

[kickingzebra]

Racing internationally (NZ and Aus anyway) You can only choose letters from your initials...
When Jared was in oz a few weeks ago he was racing a J... Something about an L plate taking the philip island lap record would have been brilliant though!!

[Ivan]

Well my number has stayed 59 since I started racingand each year I buy that number so I own it

[Switch]

Wow, you learn something everyday :yes:

[FROSTY]

I dunno about overseas but over here in every class no 1-10 become available to those that acheived that placing in the nationals.
Beyond that when you apply for your licence you CAN apply for a national number
--Mine in F3 is 20 and in sports production is 126
From my point of view it makes life easy --Someone else fronts a meeting on number 20 they have to change number-mines a national allocated number

[McJim]

ahhh so they get to pick then...

*would want #7* lol

Was that not Barry Sheene's number.?...great rider...only got the metal pins removed from his legs a few years ago.

[placidfemme]

Was that not Barry Sheene's number.?...great rider...only got the metal pins removed from his legs a few years ago.

I have no idea lol... I'm not a racer myself... don't have the balls (haha yeah... insert smart comment here)... but 7 is my fav number...

[Rick]

Racing internationally (NZ and Aus anyway) You can only choose letters from your initials...
When Jared was in oz a few weeks ago he was racing a J... Something about an L plate taking the philip island lap record would have been brilliant though!!

Then you'll be stoked to know that Jared was running "L Plates" at Phillip Island on the 996R when he broke the BEARS lap record.

Pics here; http://www.fastbymarcus.com/

[sexy beast]

awesome...yea learnt something new myself today...been wondering about this numbering thing myself....yea as the saying goes..."if you dont learn one new thing each day, dont bother waking up"

[ajturbo]

You may also notice letters in place of numbers on some bikes at national level, again these are only allowed by international riders (those that ride in overseas comps like Aus superbikes). The letters normally have something to do with the rider ie "J" for Jason McEwen.

when luke and i go to CHCH for the BOB, as we are not from there, i concider us "international" as we both have been over seas( and we are traverling over seas to get to CHCH)
so i have chosen J1
and luke J2

( last name is Jameson):rockon: :third:

[Hellraiser]

so who has 13?

[Hillbilly]

What about the colour, font and background? Below are two examples of cagiva MotoGP 50os randy Mamola's bike has a black 12 on a yellow background, and John Kosinki's bike has a white 11 on a red background.

[FROSTY]

the color rules are on the MNZ website

[kickingzebra]

Then you'll be stoked to know that Jared was running "L Plates" at Phillip Island on the 996R when he broke the BEARS lap record.

Pics here; http://www.fastbymarcus.com/

Wicked! I saw the photos, but never paid any attention, cause he was cutting some J stickers the night before he left...
Flip, that makes it really funny then!! Good shit!
That was some serious riding man!

[Maha]

ahhh so they get to pick then...

*would want #7* lol

Good choice, Barry Sheene raced with that number even after being awarded #1, he still used #7.......there is a reason he did that, cant think off hand why

[Maha]

Was that not Barry Sheene's number.?...great rider...only got the metal pins removed from his legs a few years ago.

Did they take them out after he died in 2003?........:confused:

[Flyingpony]

7 is my fav number...
A prime number, good choice.

[gav]

I think its more about marketing and selling merchandise. Look at Alex Barros, comes straight into WSBK and runs the #4 plate. Who finished 4th last year? Maybe no one cares (it was James Toseland, who runs #52) Can you recall who was 4th in MotoGP last year? Colin Edwards, yet he runs the #5 plate. Marco Melandri finished as runner up, yet prefers to run his #33 number rather than #2.
Dunno why, you'd think running the #2 would be a big incentive to get the #1 plate, and just let everyone know that he did finish #2 in the world!

[motoGB]

Was that not Barry Sheene's number.?...great rider...only got the metal pins removed from his legs a few years ago.

Incidentally, after Sheene's death in 2003, the British motorcycle racing body (ACU) banned anyone using #7 in national championships out of respect. Not sure if it is still a rule though.