Gresini to enter Honda CBR1000RR in MotoGP?

Marco Simoncelli’s 2012 MotoGP team-mate could be riding a tuned Honda CBR1000RR-powered bike.

Fausto Gresini is struggling to raise the budget required to lease a pair of RC213V 1000cc bikes for next season, so he is looking to develop his own private entry with a FireBlade engine, most likely using a Moriwaki frame.

Gresini is considering the Honda option after HRC blocked his plans to use an Aprilia RSV4 motor for his second entry.

HRC boss Shuhei Nakamoto said: “Honda sells the CBR1000RR and we also sell kit parts for superbike so he can buy. But I don’t think performance is enough.”

Nakamoto said Gresini’s Aprilia plan was an ill-conceived concept and he said: “This is a crazy idea.”

He also questioned the wisdom of the Italian’s desire to run a second rider on a privately developed machine. He added: “The engine is not so expensive but he needs a chassis and at this moment nobody is making a prototype chassis for the CBR engine. It means he has to make everything and this is not so cheap.”

Simoncelli’s new Honda contract is expected to be announced this weekend during the Motorland Aragon round in Spain having agreed new terms in Misano.