One piece of silly season has finally fallen into place.
On the eve of the Dutch GP the San Carlo Honda Gresini Team has signed Marco Simoncelli, who will make his MotoGP debut in 2010, to a one year contract.
Fausto Gresini also announced that he has signed a new deal with title sponsor San Carlo for 2010.
During the Catalunya GP it was rumoured that Simoncelli had signed an agreement with HRC to ride for Gresini, but the rumors were denied both by Gresini and Simoncell’s manager Carlo Pernat, but today the signing was officially confirmed.
Simoncelli will be taking with him to Gresini, his present crew chief Aligi Deganello and another member of his 250cc crew.
Gresini has also added that no member in his present team will lose their jobs with the arrival of Simoncelli’s 2 man crew, because they’ll find a place in his new Moto2 team.
Fausto Gresini also said that he has yet to choose his second rider and has confirmed he is negotiating with Marco Melandri and added that he could decide to have two Italians in his team, or as he has in the past an Italian and a Spaniard, so Toni Elias and Alex DeAngelis are warned, one these two riders will be leaving Gresini, if not both.
With Simoncelli already signed, it seems improbable that Gresini could eventually choose Alvaro Bautista or Hector Barbera, unless he too erects a wall between the two garages because as everyone knows Simoncelli does not get along with his two rivals.
Simoncelli is now 5th in the 250cc championship and chasing leader Alvaro Bautista by 47 points.
After the jump San Carlo Honda Gresini Team press release and Marco Simoncelli’s statement.
We’re extremely happy to be able to make this important announcement: renewing our agreement with San Carlo, who have shown great belief in us and continue to support our targets for next year, and the agreement with Marco Simoncelli to race with us in MotoGP.
”“Marco has that determination and character that we want from a rider as part of his DNA and we are sure we can look ahead to exciting times with him.
Marco has shown over the past couple of years that he has the ability to be a major force in the premier class, as well as being a great communicator.
We have established a good feeling with him already and that facilitated negotiations over a contract that we have signed for 2010.
Also, Honda rates Simoncelli highly and believes he is a rider with great potential for the future, so Honda is very pleased that we are welcoming Simoncelli next season.
Having Marco with us creates new and important objectives for the team, which San Carlo want to reach together with us.
The determination on the part of San Carlo to be an active part of “sport that makes life taste better” has given our project another push.
Today is an important day for San Carlo and ourselves, and as we wait in expectation of great things together in the future, we wish Marco all the best in his bid to fight until the end and successfully defend his 250 title.
”Marco Simoncelli: “Next year I will be a member of the Honda Gresini team and I am very happy because it is an Italian team.
I think they are a very strong team.
I am very happy to be with Honda and with Fausto.
As many people know I am friends with Valentino Rossi and we sometimes go motocross training together, but I would like to be fighting against him next year because that will mean I am doing very well.
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