Simoncelli close to penning Honda deal
Added on Thursday, August 25th, 2011 by Carole Nash Editor
Simoncelli close to penning Honda deal
Marco Simoncelli looks to be closer to securing his future with Honda Racing, despite speculation of budgets cuts at the company.
The Gresini Honda rider, who has factory support from HRC, is reportedly close to a new contract with the team for 2012, although it is believed that one of the conditions is for Simoncelli to change the crew that has supported him since his 250cc title season.
Honda is widely expected to cut back their current factory activities, with March’s earthquake in Japan putting huge pressures on the company to cut costs, with the racing budget apparently slashed by 30%.
The Japanese manufacturer is likely to have only two works bikes, for Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa, with current works rider Andrea Dovizioso most likely to be dropped for next season.
Italian sports paper La Gazzetta dello Sport reporting that an offer is on the table for Simoncelli, although the 24-year-old is reluctant to change crews.
“Negotiations are ongoing,” Simoncelli is quoted as saying by Gazzetta. “We are discussing technical details.
“I’m open to reinforcements, but changing the crew completely is not right. After two years where we’ve improved together, it would be strange to break it all apart when it’s time to reap the fruits.
“We’ll see [at this weekend's Indianapolis Grand Prix] and I hope to be as optimistic as I feel now. I’d like to go back home with a clearer situation, because it would be important to have a decision, even if it’s not the proper contract yet, by [the San Marino Grand Prix in] Misano [on September 4].”
Livio Suppo, the former Ducati head who switched to Honda for 2010, confirmed that Honda had asked Simoncelli to switch crews but said he was open to negotiation on the issue.
“[Honda vice president Shuhei] Nakamoto would like to strengthen the technical side in order to give Marco maximum support because, even if the team has improved, he still sees something lacking.
“We understand the importance the rider gives to his current crew though so at Indy, during negotiations, we may backtrack on this point.”
