Valentino Rossi’s best mate unveils Moto2 squad

Valentino Rossi’s lifelong best friend Alessio ‘Uccio’ Salucci unveiled the new Moto2 squad he is helping run in 2011 in Milan yesterday (Tuesday).

Salucci helped show off the new Speed Master Team that will field highly-rated young Italian Andrea Iannone this season.

Uccio, who has been a constant presence at Rossi’s side ever since the Italian embarked on his world championship career back in 1996, has helped find sponsor for Iannone’s squad while also recruiting personnel.

Uccio said: “I admire Andrea because he shuts the gas with energy and reopens it quickly. I don’t think I would have stepped in such an adventure with a different rider.”

Iannone is one of the pre-season favourites for the 2011 Moto2 title having won three races last season.

But he has been a largely anonymous figure in winter testing having switched from a British-built FTR chassis to the Swiss Suter frame that Scott Redding uses in the Marc VDS Racing squad.

Iannone said: “I don’t really like to be the man on the scene, I like to prove what I am worth when I am on my bike. In this team we have a lot of enthusiasm and experience and I believe we have the right chance to reach top results.”