Eight Brits in Grand Prix in 2011

British talent in the Grand Prix world championship will be at its highest level in years in 2011 with eight riders confirmed for the forthcoming season.

Cal Crutchlow will lead the challenge in the final 800cc MotoGP class as he will ride alongside Colin Edwards in the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad.

The Coventry rider has moved from World Superbikes to follow James Toseland and Ben Spies into Herve Poncharal’s French-based squad.

Scott Redding, Bradley Smith and Kev Coghlan will feature in the Moto2 class while four Brits will compete in the 125GP series. Danny Webb is the most experienced campaigner and he will be joined by rookie trio Danny Kent, Harry Stafford and Taylor Mackenzie, son of triple MCN British Superbike champion Niall.

The MotoGP entry list contains no late surprises with only 17 riders entering the premier class.

All eyes will be on Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner after their respective transfers to Ducati and Honda respectively.

The entry list confirmed that Yamaha still hasn’t secured a title sponsor for 2011 with reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo and Texan Spies entered under the Yamaha Factory Racing banner.

Yamaha as yet hasn’t been successful in its quest to replace Fiat as title sponsor, as was first reported by MCN on December 23.

Full MotoGP entry

1; JORGE LORENZO, SPANISH, YAMAHA FACTORY RACING, YAMAHA

4; ANDREA DOVIZIOSO, ITALIAN, REPSOL HONDA TEAM, HONDA

5; COLIN EDWARDS, AMERICAN, MONSTER YAMAHA TECH 3, YAMAHA

7; HIROSHI AOYAMA, JAPANESE, SAN CARLO HONDA GRESINI, HONDA

8; HECTOR BARBERA, SPANISH, ASPAR TEAM, DUCATI

11; BEN SPIES AMERICAN, YAMAHA FACTORY RACING, YAMAHA

14; RANDY DE PUNIET, FRENCH, PRAMAC RACING TEAM, DUCATI

17; KAREL ABRAHAM, CZECH, CARDION AB MOTORACING, DUCATI

19; ALVARO BAUTISTA, SPANISH, RIZLA SUZUKI MotoGP, SUZUKI

24; TONI ELIAS, SPANISH, LCR HONDA MotoGP, HONDA

26; DANI PEDROSA, SPANISH, REPSOL HONDA TEAM, HONDA

27; CASEY STONER, AUSTRALIAN, REPSOL HONDA TEAM, HONDA

35; CAL CRUTCHLOW, BRITISH, MONSTER YAMAHA TECH 3, YAMAHA

46; VALENTINO ROSSI, ITALIAN, DUCATI TEAM, DUCATI

58; MARCO SIMONCELLI, ITALIAN, SAN CARLO HONDA GRESINI, HONDA

65; LORIS CAPIROSSI, ITALIAN, PRAMAC RACING TEAM, DUCATI

69; NICKY HAYDEN, AMERICAN, DUCATI TEAM, DUCATI