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Moto3, Team Gresini: Di Giannantonio and Martin to win

Both the Moto3 and Moto2 teams presented today. Fausto: "Always exciting to begin a new season, we have all our papers in order to contend for the title"

Moto3: Team Gresini: Di Giannantonio and Martin to win

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Passion and a desire to win. These are the distinctive traits under which the 2018 season opens for team Gresini Moto 3 and Moto2, presented today in the logistical centre of title sponsor Del Conca. With the widespread foul weather in Emilia – Romagna defeated, Fausto Gresini was able to present the trio he will be flaunting in the lower classes, also remaining the only team manager who can boast having a team in all three classes of the championship. “I am always excited at the beginning of a seasonthe team manager explains – despite the number of years that have passed. It is a pleasure to do all this while following my passion.”

Last season held joy and suffering, but for the new year, the former world champion’s expectations are high: “In 2017 we did not do badly, but if we look at the final championship result, we reaped very little. In Moto3 we have two riders who are ready, but we need to continue improving. We have all our papers in order to win and contend for the title. Last year, Jorge was in his first year with us, whereas Fabio was in his second, but he started with an injury that slowed him down in the early races. In Moto2 we have a young rider who we need to help grow, but one who has everything it takes to be a protagonist. He just needs to learn a few things. He is a very professional young man who is very committed to his work.”

It was precisely the latter, namely Jorge Navarro, who was the first to take the stage: “The first tests were a good chance for initial contact where we focused more on small details than on our times. I am very happy here and I want to give it my all, maybe taking the best results at my home races in Spain or at the team’s home races in Italy”. Up next was Tommaso Raponi who will be by the Spaniards side once again this year as crew chief. “Last year the impact was not perfect, but we are working well and we are moving in a good direction.”

The highlight of the day, however, was the moment when Fabio Di Giannantonio and Jorge Martin unveiled their Hondas. The first to take the floor was the Roman, with the classic smile we have all grown accustomed to. “We are pleased with what we have done so far in the tests, where we were fast and have improved. In every Moto3 race there are 20 or 25 fast riders in the battle, so we hope to be right there in the mix.” Alongside him was obviously Fabrizio Cecchini, the crew chief with whom he has by now developed a father-son relationship: “The lad is like a third son to me by now: he behaves well and he is fast. We really want to go to Qatar so we can get started.”

Sharing the garage with “Diggia” once again this year will be Jorge Martin, undoubtedly one of the fastest on the 2018 grid in this class: “Last year, everything was positive but the injury midway through the season limited me. The win in Valencia gave me great motivation for the new year and I think that we are starting from a better base this year than we had last season.” Number 88 will not be changing crew chief either, with confirmation of an experienced man like Massimo Capanna. “Working with Jorge was nice and interesting from the start. We understood one another straight away and that is not something that always happens. Now all we need to do is keep going in this direction.”

Translated by Jonathan Blosser
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