Ben Spies will be taking back his original number 11 that he used while racing in the AMA series, when he moves to the MotoGP World Championship next year to ride in Yamaha Tech 3.
The American will have to give up his #19 that has brought him luck in WSBK, as Spanish rider Alvaro Baustista, Suzuki’s new rookie, will be keeping the same number that he now uses in the 250cc series.
Spies chose to run #19 in his rookie year in the World Superbike series when he couldn’t take his own because BMW rider Troy Corser was using number 11.
Picking number 19 was also Spies special way to pay homage to his late friend Ryan Smith.