Ten 500cc Grand Prix bike number plates you could actually read

Submitted by Rich Fowler on March 29, 2013

Back in the 70s, 80s and early 1990s a black number on a yellow background meant you were an elite racer, riding a 500cc prototype grand prix motorcycle in the premier category. The numbers from one to ten on a bike meant something. The coverted number one was obviously for the reigning world champion, while the 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 indicated where you finished the previous year. Not only did the numbers help identify the rider, it showed you who were the coming men and in a pack situation, it was a constant reminder of what the battle was all about. So when did the FIM allow the plates to change from the standard black on yellow? and When did they stop enforcing the minium sizes and the one to ten system? And why?