Gresini Honda To Race At Valencia

Cycle News Staff | October 31, 2011

The Fausto Gresini-owned teams in the MotoGP and Moto2 World Championships will race this weekend in Valencia after much speculation that the team wouldn’t be there after its lead rider Marco Simoncelli was killed October 23 in the Malaysian Grand Prix. The team will field Hiroshi Aoyoma in the Valencian MotoGP and Michele Pirro and Yuki Takahashi in the final Moto2 race of 2011.

“The decision to participate was not an easy one, but we have made this choice as it is what Marco would have wanted,” Gresini said. “Going out on track at Valencia is definitely the best way to honor him by doing what he most loved to do: Ride and experience the world of MotoGP. This is why I believe that the best show of affection that we can make to Marco is by lining up our teams and riders for this race. “Super Sic” will be present in the hearts of Hiroshi Aoyama, Michele Pirro and Yuki Takahashi, and I am sure that they will give him a most fitting tribute with their performances on Sunday.”