Gresini: we are a factory team

Article from http://www.gpone.com/index.php/it/news/35-in-evidenza/3051-gresini-siamo-un-team-ufficiale-hrc.html

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."