Michael Laverty to MotoGP in 2013

As has been widely rumoured, Michael Laverty has been named on the provisional MotoGP entry list for 2013 in Paul Bird’s British-based squad.

Laverty is entered on a PBM machine, which is expected to use an Aprilia motor housed in a chassis designed and built in the UK by GPMS.

As was first reported by MCN in mid-October, Bird’s entry on the Aprilia ART machine will be Colombian rider Yonny Hernandez, who takes the places of ousted British rider James Ellison.

Bird initially intended to run an all-British effort in 2013 and he was linked with triple BSB champion Shane Byrne, Tommy Hill and Sam Lowes.

Lowes and Hill initially ruled themselves out and Byrne then decided last week to commit his future to Bird’s BSB team to bid for a record fourth title.

Laverty is the oldest of the famous Irish racing brothers, which includes World Superbike star Eugene.

He finished fifth in this year’s British Superbike and has seven career wins in the domestic series.

Laverty is entered as number 33 on the provisional grid, which has Jorge Lorenzo declining the chance to run the number one plate by being entered with his traditional number 99 on Yamaha’s factory YZR-M1.

The MotoGP grid could feature 24 bikes next season, with 12 factory prototypes and 12 CRT bikes. The only entry to be confirmed is the second Suter bike for the Italian-based Came Ioda squad.

Provisional MotoGP entry list”

4          ANDREA DOVIZIOSO, ITALIAN, DUCATI TEAM, DUCATI
5          COLIN EDWARDS, USA, NGM MOBILE FORWARD RACING, FTR KAWASAKI*
6          STEFAN BRADL, GERMAN, LCR HONDA MotoGP, HONDA
7          HIROSHI AOYAMA, JAPANESE, AVINTIA BLUSENS, FTR*
8          HECTOR BARBERA, SPANISH, AVINTIA BLUSENS, FTR*
9          DANILO PETRUCCI, ITALIAN, CAME IODARACING PROJECT, IODA-SUTER*
11       BEN SPIES, USA, PRAMAC RACING TEAM, DUCATI
14       RANDY DE PUNIET, FRENCH, POWER ELECTRONICS ASPAR, ART*
17       KAREL ABRAHAM, CZECH, CARDION AB MOTORACING, ART*
19       ALVARO BAUTISTA, SPANISH, GO & FUN HONDA GRESINI, HONDA
26       DANI PEDROSA, SPANISH, REPSOL HONDA TEAM, HONDA
29       ANDREA IANNONE, ITALIAN, PRAMAC RACING TEAM, DUCATI
33       MICHAEL LAVERTY, BRITISH, PAUL BIRD MOTORSPORT, PBM*
35       CAL CRUTCHLOW, BRITISH, MONSTER YAMAHA TECH 3, YAMAHA
38       BRADLEY SMITH, BRITISH, MONSTER YAMAHA TECH 3, YAMAHA
41       ALEIX ESPARGARO, SPANISH, POWER ELECTRONICS ASPAR, ART*
46       VALENTINO ROSSI, ITALIAN, YAMAHA FACTORY RACING, YAMAHA
67       BRYAN STARING, AUSTRALIAN, GO & FUN HONDA GRESINI, FTR HONDA*
68       YONNY HERNANDEZ, COLOMBIAN, PAUL BIRD MOTORSPORT, ART*
69       NICKY HAYDEN, USA, DUCATI TEAM, DUCATI
71       CLAUDIO CORTI, ITALIAN, NGM MOBILE FORWARD RACING, FTR KAWASAKI*
93       MARC MARQUEZ, SPANISH, REPSOL HONDA TEAM, HONDA
99       JORGE LORENZO, SPANISH, YAMAHA FACTORY RACING, YAMAHA
TBC     TO BE CONFIRMED, CAME IODARACING PROJECT, IODA-SUTER*