MORIWAKI BLOG_ENG

FEDERAL OIL TO SPONSOR TEAM GRESINI MOTO2 AND GINO REA

Federal Oil and Gresini Racing are pleased to announce an important new collaboration in the Moto2 World Championship. Federal Oil is the principal Indonesian producer of motorcycle oils with over 40 million litres sold in 2011 and they have chosen Team Gresini's Moto2 to help market their brand on the global platform of elite motorcycle racing. Federal Oil produced and distributed by PT Federal Karyatama from Jakarta, and act as a market leader oil brand in Indonesi a, a country that boasts a huge motorcycle market and racing fan base.

RUDY HARTONO HUSADA (Marketing Director of Federal Oil) “The decision to link our brand with the Gresini Moto2 project and the British rider Gino Rea represents a strategic move for Federal Oil. Motorcycle is an important market in Indonesia and the country has a constantly growing interest in MotoGP. Our country has the third largest number of motorcycles on the streets and we closely follow MotoGP racing. We are very enthusiastic about this new partnership and we believe that Team Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 and Gino Rea will carry our colours well, increasing the passion for motorcycle racing amongst Indonesians and strengthening their bond with our brand.”

FAUSTO GRESINI (Team Manager) “Reaching such a major agreement with a company like Federal Oil is a proud moment for our team. It is always exciting to welcome major new partners on board but especially when they are from a country with such a strong motorcycling market and major fan base for our sport. We believe that this agreement is only the start of a relationship that, under the Federal Oil banner, can further promote the sport in Indonesia. Maybe one day we will even be able to bring a young Indonesian rider through into the championship.”

There was little progress for Team Thai Honda Gresini Moto2 on the final day of testing at Jerez today, where a host of Showa suspension setting changes and other set-up experiments failed to bear fruit. Rattapark Wilairot has yet to find an optimum feeling with his Moriwaki machine despite working intensely over the past three days and the team have work to do in order to improve his options in the first round of the season at the Losail Circuit, Qatar, on April 8th .

Rattapark Wilairot (24th - 1’ 43” 621) “We seem to be a long way from finding the optimum set-up and we have a lot of work to do if we want to improve our position from today. We need to sit down and think about things now and make sure we are ready for Qatar.”

Fausto Gresini “Unfortunately we can't say we're happy today, we are behind and we have a lot of work to do to turn the situation around. I think Wilairot and Moriwaki can expect to be closer to the front so we have to look at the data we have gathered here along with the rider feedback and try to be as ready as possible for the first round in Qatar.”

TWO LIVERIES, ONE GOAL FOR TEAM GRESINI MOTO2
The dawn of the Moto2 era in 2010 presented a unique opportunity for Team Gresini, who rose to the challenge and used their experience to take the title at the first attempt. The Moto2 category continues to grow on a technical and sporting level and Team Gresini Moto2, with the crucial support of Moriwaki, tackle the 2012 campaign with an ambitious project. Team Gresini take to the track with two bikes in completely different livery but with the exact same technical expertise.

One bike will carry the colours of AP Honda, distributors of Honda in Thailand, along with other national companies from Thailand such as fuel suppliers PTT, in support of Ratthapark Wilairot. The Thai rider made his debut in the 250cc class and has established a reputation as a fast and determined Moto2 rider, picking up a podium at Assen in 2010.

On the other bike Indonesian company Federal Oil will be the main sponsor supporting Gino Rea, who makes his debut in the Moto2 World Championship thanks also to the extended collaboration between Team Gresini and Ukraine's Crimea Grand Prix Circuit. Rea established a reputation as a fast and flamboyant rider in the World Supersport category last year riding a Honda CBR600RR.

FAUSTO GRESINI

“Moto2 is an important category in motorcycle racing and the only real launchpad, in a technical and sporting sense, to MotoGP. The fans love it, it creates a lot of interest and I am sure it has a big future. This season we take to the track with two different liveries for our two riders Gino Rea and Rattapark Wilairot, who both have great potential. They will both be riding MD600 machines built by Moriwaki, who have been an important partner of ours since we joined this championship. We have proven to be a professional team over the years and our commitment to Moto2 is an important way for us to show our technical capabilities. It is not an easy category and it is very competitive but that just pushes us to do our best and compete at the front.”