Provisional 2004 entry list, Barros at Yamaha?

The FIM has today announced the provisional entry list for the 2004 MotoGP world championship.

The list states that Valentino Rossi will ride a #46 Gauloises Yamaha and that Alex Barros will not be moving to Honda, but stay as Marco Melandri's team-mate in what will become the Fortuna Yamaha team (Gauloises and Fortuna backed having been swapped).

However, the second Repsol seat alongside Nicky Hayden remains vacant, suggesting Barros could still move... but his chances are getting ever slimmer.

Meanwhile, Shinya Nakano is confirmed at Kawasaki alongside Alex Hofmann, with Kurtis Roberts revealed as the new Proton KR rider alongside Nobuatsu Aoki (see seperate story).

As expected, Makoto Tamada has become Max Biaggi's new team-mate at the newly named 'Camel Pramac Honda Pons' outfit - a combination of the former 'Camel Pramac Pons' team owned by Sito Pons and 'Pramac Honda', which fielded Tamada this year.

It is expected that - despite officially racing for the same team - Tamada will keep Bridgestone tyres and Biaggi Michelins in 2004.

The WCM outfit is yet to name either of its riders, while Neil Hodgson is yet to officially pick a race number (he used the #100 in WSBK) - team-mate Ruben Xaus will ride with his usual #11.

The FIM state that the following is a: "list of riders and teams which have so far been confirmed by the selection committee. A number of other applications have also been received and are currently under consideration."

Provisional 2004 MotoGP entry list:

#3Max BiaggiITA (Honda) Camel Pramac Honda Pons
#4Alex BarrosBRA (Yamaha)Fortuna Yamaha Team
#6Makoto Tamada JPN (Honda) Camel Pramac Honda Pons
#7Carlos ChecaSPA (Yamaha)Gauloises Yamaha Team
#9Nobuatsu AokiJPN (Proton KR)Proton Team KR
#10Kenny RobertsUSA (Suzuki)Suzuki Grand Prix Team
#11Ruben XausSPA (Ducati) D'Antin MotoGP
#12Troy BaylissAUS (Ducati) Ducati Marlboro Team
#15Sete GibernauSPA (Honda) Telefonica Movistar Honda
#21John HopkinsUSA (Suzuki) Suzuki Grand Prix Team
#33Marco MelandriITA (Yamaha) Fortuna Yamaha Team
#45Colin EdwardsUSA (Honda) Telefonica Movistar Honda
#46Valentino RossiITA (Yamaha)Gauloises Yamaha Team
#56Shinya NakanoJPN (Kawasaki)Kawasaki Racing Team
#65Loris CapirossiITA (Ducati) Ducati Marlboro Team
#66Alex HofmannGER (Kawasaki) Kawasaki Racing Team
#67Shane ByrneGBR (Aprilia)Aprilia Racing
#69Nicky HaydenUSA (Honda) Repsol Honda
#80Kurtis RobertsUSA (Proton KR)Proton Team KR
#99Jeremy McWilliamsGBR (Aprilia)Aprilia Racing
#tbaNeil HodgsonGBR (Ducati) tba D'Antin MotoGP
#tba tba(Honda) Repsol Honda
#tba tba(Harris WCM) WCM
#tba tba(Harris WCM) WCM