The following is from Gresini Racing…
Gresini Racing has defined its sports programme for 2009 and Team San Carlo Honda Gresini will be comprised of the Spanish Toni Elias and Alex De Angelis from San Marino.
Gresini Racing is also proud and pleased to announce the confirmation of San Carlo Gruppo Alimentare as the title sponsor of the team. The company, based in Milan, the Italian leader in its own field, will continue to support a team with which it shares values and strong passion for sport.
The strong professional relationship between Fausto Gresini’s team and Honda Racing Corporation – built over twelve years of intense collaboration, 14 victories in the MotoGP class, and based on values of mutual esteem and trust – in 2009 will be further intensified: Team San Carlo Honda Gresini will be provided with the third Honda RC212V in factory spec. that will be raced by Toni Elias.
For Elias it’s a return to the team for which he raced successful ly in 2006 and 2007 seasons. The 25 year-old from Manresa collected several podiums and its first victory in MotoGP class in the memorable Grand Prix of Portugal in 2006.
The Spanish rider will race alongside Alex De Angelis, who will compete on a satellite version of Honda RC212V. The recent renewal of the contract with the San Marino rider is due to the confidence that the Team San Carlo Honda Gresini has in a young and determined rider like Alex, who during this season has demonstrated his potential and his will to grow.
FAUSTO GRESINI – TEAM MANAGER
“I’m happy to announce the Team San Carlo Honda Gresini sports programme for the 2009 season, a new adventure that is going to be very challenging and with great premise. The possibility to line up a Honda factory spec. machine represents for us a sign of esteem from HRC and it will offer to us all the potential to make a great season. Welcome back to Toni Elias who will be Alex De Angelis’ new team mate in 2009, recently confirmed after his debut season in MotoGP. I would like to thank San Carlo that will continue to collaborate with us as title sponsor of the team. We are proud of the relationship that has been created with the Italian company and also with the other partners of the squad: we expect to collect together great results and satisfaction. At last an acknowledgment to Shinya Nakano who contributed to another chapter of Gresini Racing. I wish him good luck in continuing his career”.
KOSUKE YASUTAKE – MANAGING DIRECTOR HRC
“I am pleased to say that HRC and Team Gresini will continue their long and successful relationship into the 2009 MotoGP season. Team Gresini has been our strategic partner in grand prix racing for many years and we will once again supply the team with a RC212V factory spec machine for one of their riders. Fausto Gresini leads a very well managed team with excellent technical staff, they are all very dedicated and determined people with a passion for racing and the desire to succeed. The team receive precious support from their title sponsor San Carlo and we all look forward to another successful season together.”
