MotoGP: Casey Stoner to run number one plate in 2008

As expected, MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner will run the number one plate on his factory Ducati in 2008, while five British riders will compete in the three MotoGP world championship classes next season.

Aussie Casey Stoner, who won 10 races in a dominant 2007 campaign, will ditch his trademark number 27 to defend his crown with the number one plate after provisional entry lists for next season were unveiled today (Friday).

Team Roberts have still not confirmed their participation in the series while they await news on a massive sponsorship deal.

Double World Superbike champion James Toseland will be the lone British representative in MotoGP, with Irish rider Eugene Laverty competing for the Blusens Aprilia squad in the 250GP series.

Three British riders will race in the 125GP class, led by Bradley Smith, who became the youngest British rider in history to claim a world championship podium when he finished third in Le Mans in 2007.

Danny Webb will switch from Honda to Aprilia for his second season with the Molenaar squad, while Scott Redding will run the number 45 in his rookie campaign with the Blusens Aprilia outfit.

2008 Provisional Entry Lists:

MotoGP class
1 CASEY STONER   AUS DUCATI
3 ALEX DE ANGELIS   RSM HONDA
4 ANDREA DOVIZIOSO  ITA HONDA
5 COLIN EDWARDS   USA YAMAHA
7 CHRIS VERMEULEN  AUS SUZUKI
13 ANTHONY WEST   AUS KAWASAKI
14 RANDY DE PUNIET   FRA HONDA
21 JOHN HOPKINS   USA KAWASAKI
24 TONI ELIAS    SPA DUCATI
26 DANI PEDROSA   SPA HONDA
33 MARCO MELANDRI  ITA DUCATI
46 VALENTINO ROSSI   ITA YAMAHA
48 JORGE LORENZO   SPA YAMAHA
50 SYLVAIN GUINTOLI  FRA DUCATI
52 JAMES TOSELAND   GBR YAMAHA
56 SHINYA NAKANO   JPN HONDA
65 LORIS CAPIROSSI   ITA SUZUKI
69 NICKY HAYDEN   USA HONDA

250 class
4 HIROSHI AOYAMA   JPN KTM
5 HECTOR FAUBEL   SPA APRILIA
6 ALEX DEBON   SPA APRLIA
7 RUSSEL GOMEZ   SPA APRILIA
10 IMRE TOTH    HUN APRILIA
12 THOMAS LUTHI   SUI APRILIA
14 RATTHAPARK WILAIROT  THA HONDA
15 ROBERTO LOCATELLI  ITA GILERA
17 KAREL ABRAHAM   CZE APRILIA
19 ALVARO BAUTISTA  SPA APRILIA
21 HECTOR BARBERA   SPA APRILIA
25 ALEX BALDOLINI   ITA APRILIA
32 FABRIZIO LAI   ITA APRILIA
36 MIKA KALLIO   FIN KTM
41 ALEIX ESPARGARO  SPA APRLIA
45 DONI TATA PRADITA  INA YAMAHA
50 EUGENE LAVERTY   IRL APRILIA
52 LUKAS PESEK   CZE APRILIA
54 MANUEL POGGIALI  RSM APRILIA
55 YUKI TAKAHASHI   JPN HONDA
58 MARCO SIMONCELLI  ITA GILERA
60 JULIAN SIMON   SPA KTM
75 MATTIA PASINI   ITA APRILIA

125 class
5 EFREN VAZQUEZ   SPA APRILIA
6 JOAN OLIVE    SPA DERBI
7 ALEXIS MASBOU   FRA LONCIN
8 LORENZO ZANETTI  ITA KTM
11 SANDRO CORTESE   GER APRILIA
12 ESTEVE RABAT   SPA KTM
14 GABOR TALMACSI   HUN APRILIA
16 JULES CLUZEL   FRA LONCIN
17 STEFAN BRADL   GER APRILIA
18 NICOLAS TEROL   SPA APRILIA
21 ROBIN LASSER   GER APRILIA
22 PABLO NIETO   SPA KTM
24 SIMONE CORSI   ITA APRILIA
27 STEFANO BIANCO   ITA APRILIA
29 ANDREA IANNONE   ITA APRILIA
30 PERE TUTUSAUS   SPA APRILIA
33 SERGIO GADEA   SPA APRILIA
34 RANDY KRUMMENACHER SUI KTM
35 RAFFAELE DE ROSA  ITA KTM
38 BRADLEY SMITH   GBR APRILIA
44 POL ESPARGARO   SPA DERBI
45 SCOTT REDDING   GBR APRILIA
51 STEVIE BONSEY   USA APRILIA
55 HUGO VAN DEN BERG  NED APRILIA
60 MICHAEL RANSEDER  AUT APRILIA
63 MIKE DI MEGLIO   FRA DERBI
69 LOUIS ROSSI   FRA HONDA
71 TOMOYOSHI KOYAMA  JPN KTM
73 TAKAAKI NAKAGAMI  JPN APRILIA
77 DOMINIQUE AEGERTER  SUI DERBI
87 ROBERTO LACALENDOLA ITA APRILIA
93 MARC MARQUEZ   SPA KTM
95 ROBERT MURESAN  ROM APRILIA
99 DANNY WEBB   GBR APRILIA