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:

“I 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.”

Continue reading: Marco Simoncelli extends contract with Gresini Honda for another year

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The Suzuka race track has been bandied around by riders as an alternative to racing at Motegi, with HRC Executive Vice President Shuhei Nakamoto in a interview during the Brno post race test saying that the he liked the idea of Suzuka, but it was not FIM homologated:

The track is different. Maybe two or three of the walls they renewed, and paddock area is now fantastic. Press room is also very good! This is very important for you, yes? [Laughs] Original layout remains but after the hairpin, the very high speed turn, that corner now has a chicane, the chicane is only used for motorcycle races, Formula 1 never used it. Some areas have also been modified, and access roads is now 100% vehicle access, before this was not so. West and south was a different access road, but now you can go all the way round. FIM checked new Suzuka circuit, and FIM is not happy. For several things. Hairpin corner run off zone is not enough, or something. I forget the exact details. Now course license, before Suzuka was 2nd, now they give us 3rd rank license. Regulation is clearly showing we can race only on grade A, A1 and B. Now, Suzuka is 3rd.

Apparently Nakamoto’s interview in English was slightly misunderstood by the attending press (and fans) as HRC has felt the need to clarify their position on Suzuka with a press release which basically says Nakamoto likes Suzuka, but it is not being considered as a replacement venue for Motegi.

Press release after the jump.

Continue reading: HRC's Shuhei Nakamoto's correct statement on Suzuka option

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Yesterday at the Monza racetrack, Team San Carlo Honda Gresini officially presented their 2011 team and confirming their continuing sponsorship with snack food company San Carlo, who is celebrating their 75th anniversary this year.

Besides the usual positive words by riders Marco Simoncelli and Hiroshi Aoyama, Fausto Gresini who turned 50 recently, confirmed that their team is now 100% factory backed. So not only will Marco Simoncelli continue getting the official equipment (he’s on HRC’s payroll not Gresini’s, since he moved up to MotoGP in 2010) but also his team mate Hiroshi Aoyama (Honda continuely pins their hopes on a Japanese rider) who has been testing a satellite RC212V with excellent results, will also be getting factory goodies.

With five factory riders Honda has pulled out all stops (and to hell with waning sells and cost saving measures) and wants this last MotoGP 800cc title to be theirs.

Source | asphaltandrubber.com

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