Gresini goes black for MotoGP 2012

The San Carlo-backed Gresini team has swapped its usual white livery for black during the 2012 MotoGP season.

The black colours will be used by both Honda RC213V rider Alvaro Bautista and Gresini's new CRT MotoGP entry for Michele Pirro.

"It is the start of a new adventure for me and I think we have every reason to believe we can do well this season," said Bautista, who has joined Gresini after two MotoGP seasons at Suzuki.

"I am satisfied because the Sepang tests were very positive and now we're going to Jerez to finish the job and try to find even better feeling with the Honda RC213V."

Pirro, stepping up to MotoGP from Moto2, is yet to test his FTR-Honda CRT machine, which will be powered by a Ten Kate-tuned CBR1000RR engine.

"Finally I have seen my bike!" said last year's Valencia Moto2 winner. "It's beautiful and I cannot wait to try it. I am convinced that the team has done a good job and so I'm confident about my new challenge. Initially it will not be easy but we will work hard to gather results."

Gresini Racing, rocked by the tragic death of Marco Simoncelli in last October's Sepang round, will also run Gino Rea and Rattapark Wilairot in Moto2 and Niccolo Antonelli in Moto3.

"We wanted to continue in the name of Marco, because I'm sure it's what he would have wanted," said San Carlo president Alberto Vitaloni.

San Carlo has been Gresini's MotoGP title sponsor since 2008.