How do they pick the numbers?

[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:Me]

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?........

[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.