Honda HRC via Twitter has revealed the first official image of reigning World Champion Casey Stoner with his new 1000cc RC213V with the number one plate during today’s official launch at Sepang.

Updated with other images from the launch courtesy of Honda Racing team and official press release:

Repsol Honda Team return to centre stage in Malaysia

The Repsol Honda Team, 2011 Triple Crown Champions, hosted the media at a Team Presentation in the Pan Pacific Hotel in Kuala Lumpur tonight with a press conference and welcome party.

After the winter break, team riders Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa returned to the media spotlight refreshed and eager to start the new season. Alongside them were HRC team bosses, Shuhei Nakamoto (HRC Executive Vice President), Hideki Iwano (Director, Assistant to Team Principal), Shinichi Kokubu (Technical Director) and Livio Suppo (Communications and Marketing Director). This was also the first opportunity for the media to see the new RC213V bike complete with 2011 World Champion, Casey Stoner’s number ‘1′ emblazoned on the front.

Continue reading: Casey Stoner debuts #1 plate on Honda RC213V

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With just two races left in the MotoGP 800cc era, Casey Stoner will be heading to Sepang with the 2011 Championship crown already on top of his head and wanting another pole position and another win to add to the list of his already amazing accomplishments, but he’s already thinking ahead to the 2012 season.

According the Australian champion he’ll be testing the RC213V the day after the Sepang GP and there is no mention if team mate Dani Pedrosa will be involved in the development word or if Marco Simoncelli will get another chance to ride the new 1000cc bike following his test at Motegi earlier this month. Honda’s prototype has already been tested at Brno (both Stoner and Pedrosa) and at Jerez (only Stoner).

“After clinching the title in the last race at Phillip Island we go to Malaysia with a lot less pressure and we can just look forward to the race. It’s disappointing to hear that Jorge is unlikely to be there, we had hoped that his recovery from the operation would mean he could race there but we’ll miss him there again. After pre-season testing in Sepang we proved to be competitive so we will arrive there positive and look to enjoy the weekend. We’re also testing the 1000cc bike on Monday after the race, with the Championship now wrapped up, we can concentrate on the development of next years machine, so I’m also looking forward to that”.

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After having extended his contract with HRC and Gresini and taking an fourth place at the Motegi GP, Marco Simoncelli got his first taste of the RC213V at Motegi yesterday and the Italian seemed enthusiastic about Honda’s new prototype, however no lap times were released.

“The big day has finally arrived and I was able to test the bike I will ride next year. It was a fantastic experience riding the RC213V, and I’d like to thank HRC for giving me this opportunity. I did 50 laps, and I felt confident on the bike immediately, setting times like those with the RC212V. I enjoyed myself, and the bike is as fun to ride as I expected: it even wheelies in fifth and sixth gear. At the end of the day I even gave some feedback, and some suggestions that I hope will help with development. Now I’m going to enjoy some vacation time in the Philippines, on Boracay Island, before heading off to Phillip Island for the next Grand Prix.”

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Marco Simoncelli is staying an extra day at the Twin Ring circuit at Motegi as he’ll be testing the new RC213V 1000 Honda.

The Gresini rider who renewed for another year with Gresini Honda ahead of the Motegi GP and continue to have a full factory spec bike and will be the first rider outside the official Repsol Honda team to test the 2012 machine. Apparently Honda wants make an even meaner machine and wants to receive as much imput on their RC213V and not just from Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa.

Being the biggest and heaviest rider on the grid, the Italian hopes that the bigger 1000s will help his solve his fuel consumption problems that he’s experienced numerous times over the season.

Source | mcn.com

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