Joined Jun 2008
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USA
http://gpone.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3051&Itemid=54
Team Gresini held their official team presentation today, in the press room of the Autodromo di Monza. It started with a video shot inside San Carlo headquarters (the company has sponsored the team for 4 years now) featuring Marco Simoncelli and Hiroshi Aoyama looking for some work to do. They both ended up peeling potatoes...
"Yes - explained Vitaloni, President of San Carlo Vitaloni - because you must always start at the bottom."
The Italian team has always enjoyed preferential treatment compared to the other satellite Honda squads, but they are now closer to the factory than ever.
"What we have now is a factory team 100% - Fausto Gresini said enthusiastically - and I feel much more official than I have in the past, in terms of Honda's openness towards us: now we have access to all the Honda data, and Honda has placed some of its personnel on our team. If you look inside our garages, you will understand that we are a factory team."
How did you get to this point?
"We need to say thanks to Marco Simoncelli, but also to the fact that we have worked meticulously for years. We paid attention to every single detail. Honda wants to win this year, and they are pushing the rider to give their best. We are a Honda Family."
What are your expectations for the 2011 season?
"Marco has improved a lot, and he was very fast in the tests. Qatar isn't his best track, and the competition is very strong. Hiroshi is a world champion. He was unlucky last year with a serious injury, causing him to miss six races. We have two riders that are both very strong, so the potential to do well is there."
http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/rac...ights-gresini-honda-factory-squad/#more-19356
How serious is Honda about winning the 2011 MotoGP World Championship? At Team Gresini’s MotoGP launch at Monza today, it was quietly confirmed that the San Carlo Honda Gresini squad has been given the keys to the candy store, turning the team into a factory-backed effort. While Marco Simoncelli was already assured factory support from Honda for the 2011 season, the move adds Hiroshi Aoyama to the factory rider list, and likely makes Gresini’s life infinitely less complex by not having to manage between a factory and non-factory split garage.
Team Gresini will now get full access to the Honda’s technical staff and data acquisition from the other factory riders — meaning every Honda rider except Toni Elias. This bodes well for the squad, as Simoncelli looked very promising at Sepang (likely a factor adding in this announcement), and of course Honda is keen not to see its only countrymen in the series (Aoyama) excluded from having the best equipment.
“Today is a factory team a hundred percent,” said Team Principal Fausto Gresini (translated from Italian to English via Google). “And I feel much more official than in the past for the opening of the Honda against us: we now have access to all data and Honda placed his staff between our technical team. If you see the box you understand that our team is official.”
Cramming the MotoGP grid full of factory riders seems like an interesting way to better the Honda’s chances for success, although it remains to be seen how having five hungry mouths to feed with technical support will work for the Japanese manufacturer, and who, if anyone, will get top priority with development efforts.
In addition to its five factory riders, Honda has already had to tip its hand regarding its new faster-shifting transmission, after accusations that Honda was using an illegal DCT arose from the Italian press. At the latest Sepang test, the 2011 Honda RC212V looked assuredly faster when compared to the Yamaha, Ducati, and Suzuki MotoGP efforts. It’s far too early to make analogies to the 2011 season, but Honda has certainly thrown down its challenge. It’ll be interesting to see how the other teams respond.
Roll on 2011!!!!!!!!
Team Gresini held their official team presentation today, in the press room of the Autodromo di Monza. It started with a video shot inside San Carlo headquarters (the company has sponsored the team for 4 years now) featuring Marco Simoncelli and Hiroshi Aoyama looking for some work to do. They both ended up peeling potatoes...
"Yes - explained Vitaloni, President of San Carlo Vitaloni - because you must always start at the bottom."
The Italian team has always enjoyed preferential treatment compared to the other satellite Honda squads, but they are now closer to the factory than ever.
"What we have now is a factory team 100% - Fausto Gresini said enthusiastically - and I feel much more official than I have in the past, in terms of Honda's openness towards us: now we have access to all the Honda data, and Honda has placed some of its personnel on our team. If you look inside our garages, you will understand that we are a factory team."
How did you get to this point?
"We need to say thanks to Marco Simoncelli, but also to the fact that we have worked meticulously for years. We paid attention to every single detail. Honda wants to win this year, and they are pushing the rider to give their best. We are a Honda Family."
What are your expectations for the 2011 season?
"Marco has improved a lot, and he was very fast in the tests. Qatar isn't his best track, and the competition is very strong. Hiroshi is a world champion. He was unlucky last year with a serious injury, causing him to miss six races. We have two riders that are both very strong, so the potential to do well is there."
http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/rac...ights-gresini-honda-factory-squad/#more-19356
How serious is Honda about winning the 2011 MotoGP World Championship? At Team Gresini’s MotoGP launch at Monza today, it was quietly confirmed that the San Carlo Honda Gresini squad has been given the keys to the candy store, turning the team into a factory-backed effort. While Marco Simoncelli was already assured factory support from Honda for the 2011 season, the move adds Hiroshi Aoyama to the factory rider list, and likely makes Gresini’s life infinitely less complex by not having to manage between a factory and non-factory split garage.
Team Gresini will now get full access to the Honda’s technical staff and data acquisition from the other factory riders — meaning every Honda rider except Toni Elias. This bodes well for the squad, as Simoncelli looked very promising at Sepang (likely a factor adding in this announcement), and of course Honda is keen not to see its only countrymen in the series (Aoyama) excluded from having the best equipment.
“Today is a factory team a hundred percent,” said Team Principal Fausto Gresini (translated from Italian to English via Google). “And I feel much more official than in the past for the opening of the Honda against us: we now have access to all data and Honda placed his staff between our technical team. If you see the box you understand that our team is official.”
Cramming the MotoGP grid full of factory riders seems like an interesting way to better the Honda’s chances for success, although it remains to be seen how having five hungry mouths to feed with technical support will work for the Japanese manufacturer, and who, if anyone, will get top priority with development efforts.
In addition to its five factory riders, Honda has already had to tip its hand regarding its new faster-shifting transmission, after accusations that Honda was using an illegal DCT arose from the Italian press. At the latest Sepang test, the 2011 Honda RC212V looked assuredly faster when compared to the Yamaha, Ducati, and Suzuki MotoGP efforts. It’s far too early to make analogies to the 2011 season, but Honda has certainly thrown down its challenge. It’ll be interesting to see how the other teams respond.
Roll on 2011!!!!!!!!
