This weekend at Imola saw not only the massive presence of 150 CIV riders in pre-season testing (Superstock 1000, Superstock 600, Superbike, Supersport 600/Moto2, GP 125/Moto3 and Yamaha R6 Cup), but also included MotoGP rookie rider Michele Pirro giving his new FRT-Honda CRT bike a planned three day shakedown test which was cut short on Saturday, after they discovered that the belly of the fairing was hitting the track in certain sections and had to go for a fairing redesign before this week’s official MotoGP test at Jerez.

While several World Superbike teams (Kawasaki, Pedercini Kawasaki, BMW, Aprilia) are at Aragon for a two-day private test, Lorenzo Zanetti was testing his Pata Racing Ducati at the Enzo and Dino Ferrrari circuit ahead of the second round of the season always at Imola. The Italian rider in his WSBK debut at Phillip Island finished in 11th and 14th respectively.

All the riders present at the Italian circuit were also treated to the legendary Randy Mamola doing some spectacular riding on the Vyrus 986 Moto2 for a special photoshoot, which also included a magnificent wheelie.

Source | booking-imola-com and motociclisti.myblog.it

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Michele Pirro finally gave his FTR/Honda bike at 20 lap shakedown test at ‘Enzo e Dino Ferrari’ circuit at Imola yesterday during the CIV test. This is the first time that the Gresini San Carlo rider has been able to ride his CTR bike as he previously tested only twice at Vallelunga, but used a normal CBR1000RR.

The Italian team and the MotoGP rookie will have their work cut out for them; they’ll have another two days of testing at Imola before heading to Jerez for final official pre-season test and will have to come to grips not only with the 225hp Honda engine tuned by Ten Kate, the Pi Cosworth electronics but also the Bridgestone tires, as Pirro used only Pirelli tires during yesterday’s shakedown test.

“Finally, I got to ride my CRT, the bike that I’ll face the MotoGP championship on,” said Pirro. “I has really been a first shakedown, where we tried to verify that everything works as well as possible. We also defined what we will work on the next two days at Imola, and also at the first Official Test for us in Jerez, which will be especially important. We are aware that a lot of work remains, but we are confident that there is a lot of potential and that if we take the right decisions, we can do well. A few laps are not enough to make big announcements, but there is a ton of enthusiasm and this environment will help us continue with this challenge.”

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The San Carlo Honda Gresini team chose the Galleria del Vento (wind tunnel) at the headquarters of the Polytechnic University of Milan to host the presentation of the MotoGP, CRT and Moto3 projects for the 2012 season. The ambitious project has the motto “Technology and Passion” which summarizes the team’s philosophy for this new adventure. Fausto Gresini and Alberto Vitaloni commence the challenge with energy and enthusiasm and a vision to build a project based on the present and the future of motorcycling.

2012 sees the interests of the team diversified in many directions: Álvaro Bautista will race in MotoGP with the Honda RC213V, Michele Pirro will be responsible for the FTR with the Honda CBR1000 RR engine tuned by Ten Kate in the CRT category and Niccolò Antonelli will be riding the NSF250R in Moto3.

“Technology and Passion is the perfect combination and remains the driving force behind the project we are doing with the Gresini team. From here a new season begins and we are proud to continue a collaboration that has given us much excitement in recent years. We want to continue on behalf of Marco (Simoncelli), because I’m sure he would have wanted it that way. I hope the choice we made will bring us new successes,” said Alberto Vitaloni President of San Carlo

Continue reading: San Carlo Honda Gresini presents 2012 MotoGP, CRT and Moto3 teams and livery

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It’s hard to forget Michele Pirro’s first ever and emotional victory during the final 2011 Moto2 race at Valencia that made Fausto Gresini break down in tears and Pirro dedicate the win to the late Marco Simoncelli, now the Italian rider who hails from Puglia, will continue his collaboration with Gresini, but will be switching to MotoGP and ride Gresini’s CRT bike, a FTR Honda, while team mate Alvaro Bautista will be on the Honda RC213V prototype.

“I’m satisfied to have made this choice and proud to participate with Team San Carlo Honda Gresini in this interesting adventure,” said Pirro. “It wasn’t an easy decision to make because in the beginning I would have preferred to stay in Moto2 and improve on this year’s results, but Fausto Gresini’s growing confidence in me in the final part of season left me in no doubts on the choice I should make. I’m honoured to continue to be part of this fantastic group and to work with them to help develop this ambitious future for MotoGP. I hope to repay their confidence in me with results and a growing technical development in this stimulating enterprise.”

“We thought it was right with such a new project like CRT, to give Michele Pirro the opportunity to further demonstrate his talent. In the final part of the 2011 Moto2 championship he showed his technical and sportmanship qualities and we think he can continue to improve and we also believe that in this new category he can become one of the main players. His beautiful and memorable victory at Valencia made everyone emotional, and made us more aware of wanting him to take part in this fascinating new adventure. We’re an Italian team and having an Italian rider is important for us and the choice to carry out this project with Michele is also the result of these strong feelings,” said Fausto Gresini.

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There was no better way to finish the 2011 Moto2 season and honour Marco Simoncelli at the same time, as Michele Pirro of Gresini Racing won a very treacherous, ride on eggs race due to the rain, and taking his first ever win in Moto2 with Simoncelli’s “Race your life” slogan on the livery of his Moriwaki.

It was a tearful and emotional Fausto Gresini that welcomed Pirro’s victory after losing his MotoGP rider two weeks ago, and after spending better part of the race at the Clinica Mobile checking up on his other rider Yuki Takahashi, who had a horrific crash at turn 3 hitting his head hard. The Japanese rider was declared okay at the circuit’s medical centre, but taken to the hospital as a precaution.

With Takahashi out, team mate Pirro picked up the lead with Mika Kallio tailing, but the Italian rider who is also part of the Italian police force, would increase even further his margin to finish under the chequered flag 6.150s ahead of second place Mika Kallio.

Dominique Aegerter made his Technomag CIP team proud with his third place, while wet weather specialist Anthony West took fourth. Kenny Noyes grabbed fifth ahead of Yonny Hernandez who had been riding as high as second until he went off track to rejoin in sixth. Mike di Meglio got the better of Xavier Simeon for seventh, while Max Neukirchner and Julian Simon closed out the top ten.

Further back Andrea Iannone took 11th and third in the standings after dicing it out with rival Alex de Angelis who finished in 12th. The Moto2 race was also a crash fest, with included newly crowned Moto2 World champion Stefan Bradl binning it on lap 4.

Continue reading: Michele Pirro wins an emotional Moto2 race for Gresini

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Moriwaki Gresini Racing Moto2 rider Michele Pirro has joined the Italian police force, under the Fiamme Oro (golden flames) sporting group. The group now counts two GP riders, as Pirro follows the footsteps of Moto2 rider Simone Corsi who joined the force earlier this year.

Pirro was presented with the special blue State Police helmet at Phillip Island today by former World Superbike, Endurance and CIV rider Paolo Blora who runs and trains the motorcycle group for the Fiamme Oro.

“For me it is a special day, I am proud to be part of the Fiamme Oro and represent Italy in the world. The Fiamme Oro State Police Sports group is the one that won the most medals ever and I will give my best to honor this glorious Corp. I would like thank the Chief of Police, and all the members of the Fiamme Oro and especially Paolo Blora, who runs the motorcycle group,” said Pirro.

The Gresini rider is currently 14th in the Moto2 standings.

Source | sportmediaset.it
Photo source | m.pirro.it

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With Moto2 tests already underway at Valencia, Fausto Gresini finally got around to officially confirming that he’ll be fielding Michele Pirro (which we pretty well already knew) and Yuki Takahashi in his Moto2 team, that won the first Moto2 championship title with Toni Elias.

Pirro is a former Supersport rider, while Takahashi raced for Poncharal’s Tech3 Moto2 team this season and finished 12th in the 2010 standings.

With Vladimir Lenov ousted from the team, we expect that Gresini will now lose the Crimea GP sponsor backing.

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According to Dutch website Racesport Aussie rider Andrew Pitt is lined up to be the second rider in the newly formed newly-formed Reitwagen Motorsport team that will debut next year in the World Superbike Championship.

The new team that will be fielding the first privately-run BMW S 1000 RR’s has already confirmed Austrian Roland Resch as one of their riders and is close to signing up the former 2001 World Supersport champion.

Pitt raced for Ten Kate Honda’s Supersport team in 2009 finishing 6th in the standings and was not confirmed for the 2010 season, with Ronald ten Kate preferring to sign-up Michele Pirro to contest the 2010 World Supersport championship on the Honda CBR600RR.

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