It looks like Fausto Gresini has found the budget to continue fielding a Honda RC213V next season (the Italian manager had some doubts whether he could come up with the funding) because he finally has announced that he’ll be keeping Alvaro Bautista on for a second consecutive season.
The 27-year old seemed to be on the verge of losing his saddle after Gresini admitted that he had been in talks with Ben Spies, Jonathan Rea and Scott Redding, despite adding that he wanted to retain the Spaniard. Bautista has scored his first ever MotoGP pole position (Silverstone) and podium (3rd at Misano) and is 6th in the standings tied with Valentino Rossi.
“I am happy and proud to announce that today we have finally reached an agreement with Alvaro for the 2013 season –a source of great satisfaction for me. I believe in long-term projects and I think that Álvaro still has plenty of potential. I am convinced that he will provide us with much further excitement with some great results. I think that for him we are like family and this feeling can take us very far,” said Fausto Gresini.
“I am very happy to continue with Gresini Racing, because from day one I knew that being part of this team would feel like being home,” said Bautista. “It is a great team and I am happy to continue with them; even when we have had difficulties this year, we have worked so hard together and I get on so well with everyone here. We will get to know one another even better next year and we can be even more competitive. I thank the team for the faith that they have shown in me and I hope that we can improve our results for the end of the current season.”
from Twowheelsblog
