Marco Simoncelli’s manager Carlo Pernat had said earlier this month that the deal with Honda and Gresini Racing was just getting the final touches before signing and ahead of this weekend’s Motegi GP, it has officially been announced that Simoncelli will be back with his Gresini team for another year, and that the bushy haired rider who has been a controversial figure this year, has been signed again by HRC (which takes the weight off of Gresini’s budget) and he’ll have factory RC213V next season.
Gresini Honda press release:Fausto Gresini is delighted to announce that Marco Simoncelli will once again wear the colours of Team San Carlo Honda Gresini in 2012.
The new deal sees the continuation of an all-Italian rider-team project that began last year, when Simoncelli made his debut in the MotoGP class, and has continued with excellent results this season.
Next year promises to be a crucial one in terms of Marco’s development, as he looks to consolidate his already blossoming relationship with Team San Carlo Honda Gresini and HRC and establish himself as a frontrunner in MotoGP.
As always the cornerstone of the arrangement is the trust shown in the talent of Simoncelli by HRC, who have offered a factory contract to the rider as well as a factory Honda RC213V machine and all the technical back-up he requires to compete at the very highest level.
Fausto Gresini:βI am really happy to announce that Marco will be back with Team San Carlo Honda Gresini in 2012.
Over the past two years together we have been able to appreciate Marco’s qualities as a rider, as a man and as an extroverted communicator, which made us keen to continue our collaboration.
Obviously in order to make this possible we needed a lot of effort from our sponsors, who have shown such belief in this project and I am grateful to them.
HRC are going to offer a general level of support that will be very important as well as making a factory RC213V factory available to Marco.
All this gives us great pride and is a testament to the close relationship we have built with the Japanese factory over fifteen fruitful years of partnership.
Marco’s huge determination will give us all a lot of motivation ahead of what promises to be an exciting new season.
β Marco Simoncelli:βTo be wearing the colours of Team San Carlo Honda Gresini for another year and riding a Honda RC213V gives me a lot of satisfaction.
To be kept on as part of project that Honda HRC are so supportive of in collaboration with Team San Carlo Honda Gresini gives me a lot of confidence and all the motivation I need to show that I can be amongst the best in MotoGP again.
2012 will be an important season for me and I want to give all those people who have believed in this project plenty to get excited about.
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