Bayliss goes backwards after losing #21.

Troy Bayliss has lost his preferred #21 race number to new Suzuki rider John Hopkins, and has had to choose a new identity under which to ride in GP's next season.

Bayliss admitted he'd been hoping to return to the number he'd used before winning the 2001 WSBK championship, but with Hopkins having adopted the #21 on his Red Bull Yamaha this year - and obviously keen to keep it - the Aussie couldn't really complain.

Instead he'll reverse the numbers for his MotoGP debut...

"If anyone's looking for me in the paddock [next year], you'd better look for #12." Bayliss wrote on his official website troybayliss.com. "I wanted to keep #21 but can you imagine someone coming into Superbike and asking me to give up #21...?

"In the last three years I've been, #1, #2 and #21, so it's just 21 backwards. I sorted of wanted #32 as I won the British Championship with that, but anyway, I'm #12 from now on."

Bayliss was keen to point out he's not losing any sleep over his change of identity and that the new number should fit in well with his new Marlboro liveried Ducati MotoGP machine.

"When it comes down to it, it's only really a number, it's not that important, but I reckon it'll look pretty good, just look for the red bike with #12 on it going round and round in circles... that'll be me," joked the likeable Aussie.

Troy will no doubt be hoping to return to the #1 displayed on his Ducati throughout the 2002 World Superbike season.

Fellow Ducati rider Loris Capirossi will continue to use his #65 next year.