ninjette.org - View Single Post - [kropotkin thinks...] - Alvaro Bautista Leaves Suzuki To Join Gresini Honda For 2012

Ninjette Newsbot · November 9th, 2011, 07:01 AM

If you enjoyed reading this article, please click here to view it on Kropotkin's site, MotoGP Matters.

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As predicted over the past few days, Alvaro Bautista has finally signed with the San Carlo Gresini Honda team for the 2012 season. The Spaniard had been holding on for news from Suzuki, but with no confirmation of the factory's involvement for 2012, Bautista's patience was tested to its limits and he had to make a decision.

Bautista will now ride a Honda RC213V for the Gresini team in 2012. Though HRC's Shuhei Nakamoto is said to regard Bautista very highly, it is unlikely that Bautista will receive the same support that Marco Simoncelli was destined to in 2012. The satellite teams will start the year very close to the factory spec bikes, but will not receive the updates as fast as the factory bikes.

With Bautista signed, that leaves just two gaps still to be filled on the factory prototype bikes for 2012. Suzuki's participation in MotoGP is still uncertain - though a decision should be taken by the end of this week - and the LCR Honda is yet to be officially filled. Given the outstanding showing that Stefan Bradl has put on in his two days on the 2011 800cc bike at the Valencia test, there is every reason to believe that Bradl will be racing for LCR Honda in 2012.

Below are the official press releases, first from Suzuki announcing Bautista's departure, and then from Gresini announcing his signing:

read more

November 9th, 2011, 07:01 AM	#1
Ninjette Newsbot All the news that's fit to excerpt Name: newsie Location: who knows? Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): only digital replicas Posts: Too much.	[kropotkin thinks...] - Alvaro Bautista Leaves Suzuki To Join Gresini Honda For 2012 If you enjoyed reading this article, please click here to view it on Kropotkin's site, MotoGP Matters. ----------------- As predicted over the past few days, Alvaro Bautista has finally signed with the San Carlo Gresini Honda team for the 2012 season. The Spaniard had been holding on for news from Suzuki, but with no confirmation of the factory's involvement for 2012, Bautista's patience was tested to its limits and he had to make a decision. Bautista will now ride a Honda RC213V for the Gresini team in 2012. Though HRC's Shuhei Nakamoto is said to regard Bautista very highly, it is unlikely that Bautista will receive the same support that Marco Simoncelli was destined to in 2012. The satellite teams will start the year very close to the factory spec bikes, but will not receive the updates as fast as the factory bikes. With Bautista signed, that leaves just two gaps still to be filled on the factory prototype bikes for 2012. Suzuki's participation in MotoGP is still uncertain - though a decision should be taken by the end of this week - and the LCR Honda is yet to be officially filled. Given the outstanding showing that Stefan Bradl has put on in his two days on the 2011 800cc bike at the Valencia test, there is every reason to believe that Bradl will be racing for LCR Honda in 2012. Below are the official press releases, first from Suzuki announcing Bautista's departure, and then from Gresini announcing his signing: read more __________________________________________________ I'm a bot. I don't need no stinkin' signature...