Gresini pushing to keep two-man team in 2012

Marco Simoncelli’s Honda boss Fausto Gresini fears he will have to downscale his squad to just one rider in 2012 as the financial crisis continues to hit MotoGP hard.

Despite the dire economic climate and strain on tem finances, HRC has raised the price of leasing a new RC213V 1000cc machine next season.

The Japanese factory has been asked to swallow a 30 per cent budget cut as Honda Motor Company’s automotive production and sales have been badly affected by the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan back in March.

And Gresini told MCN: “My intention is to remain with two bikes but the economic situation is very difficult and next season the cost of the bike increases. Everybody is saying it is necessary to bring the costs down. But from the manufacturers the costs are not coming down for the teams and this is difficult. They say it is because of the change of regulations. But in any case they must consider to bring the price down, but this is the responsibility of Dorna and the manufacturers. This is difficult and Honda now has said it is better for me to continue with only one rider, but I am not happy about that and I am working 100 per cent to have two riders. I have had people working in my team for 10 years and it is important to continue with the same conditions.”

Gresini has looked at the prospect of running one privately run bike next season using an Aprilia RSV4 engine using a British-built FTR chassis.

But he added: “I’m considering this if we don’t have two bikes from Honda. We need to consider another solution but there are many questions. I have spoken with Aprilia but it is clear that my team has been with Honda for a long time and I am pushing to keep two bikes with Honda.”

An announcement on Simoncelli’s future could come this weekend in Misano, with the Italian close to penning a new deal to stay with Greisn, though once again he will be contracted directly with HRC.