Marco Simoncelli kicks off contract talks with Honda

Honda has kicked off talks with Italian star Marco Simoncelli over a new two-year factory deal.

Although the former 250GP world champion rides for the satellite San Carlo Gresini Honda squad, he is a fully supported factory rider and his contract is direct with HRC in Japan.

Simoncelli has established himself now as one of the world’s top riders and team boss Fausto Gresini told MCN: “We are working now on making sure that we can keep Marco for the future. Marco is very happy to stay in my team. He’s not in the factory team but he is a factory rider and it is important that he stays a factory rider, so we are starting to talk to Honda. There are many details to discuss but we are confident.”