PICTURES: Honda Gresini reveals new colours.

On the eve of the final pre-season test, at Jerez in Spain, four-times 2006 race winners Gresini Honda has unveiled its new livery for the upcoming season.

In the absence of a new title sponsor to replace Fortuna, the Honda and Bridgestone supported team will field Marco Melandri and Toni Elias in a new predominantly blue livery - not unlike the team's previous Telefonica colours.

"We've got a solid team made up of two young racers we have absolute faith in and who show great promise," stated team manager and team owner Fausto Gresini. "There's Marco Melandri, world championship runner-up in 2005 and a major contender last year: with 5 wins and 12 podiums on our bike, he has been one of the main world title hopes over the past two years. We've won a lot together but we are aiming to go even higher. Marco has shown that he's a very talented rider, capable of amazing feats, who packs a powerful punch and has the will to win. We're proud that the project we set up together with Honda in 2005 is still going strong and flying our colours. This is the jewel in our crown that we're counting on in the title challenge.

"Now in his second year riding a Honda in our team is Toni Elias. Confident as we are of his potential, our goal is to develop this young man's talents even further and hopefully he'll carry on making the most of his trademark determination, as he did last year when he was rewarded with his first MotoGP victory at Estoril, the culmination of a race he dominated in true champion style.

"Our partnership with the multi-award-winning manufacturer, Honda HRC, which has always supplied us with highly competitive bikes, allows us to shine with a starring role in the top class.

"We have once again got the support of major companies. Some have been with us for many years and along with their products they have helped us achieve our best results. Others have joined us this year, enthusiastically becoming part of the heart-thumping world of motorcycling. We are proud to be so closely associated with Honda Italia and its ever-passionate and professional attitude to competitions. Our partnership with them has been long and fruitful.

"We are glad to welcome Bridgestone as our new technical partner. We have great faith in this partnership, which is based on a key strategic decision. We are determined to garner impressive results together," he concluded.

"I'm looking forward to starting the new season. I like a lot my new bike, in particular the rolling chassis. I've got faith in the potential of the Honda-Bridgestone package. We've got everything we need to compete at the top end of the championship. I feel well supported by all our partners. I'm very confident in our potential. I want to have fun and get my revenge," warned Melandri, who scored more race wins than any other Honda rider last season, only for his title hopes to be wrecked by injury.

By contrast, Elias was often left outside the victory battle last year - until he took a sensational debut win at the penultimate Estoril round, a result that probably saved his Honda ride.

"I'm very confident, for me it was very important to keep on working with the same team, the same chief mechanic and all the guys," said Toni, ahead of his second season with the team. "There is still a lot of work to do but I'm very confident. The win in Portugal gave me a major boost. My goal is to feel that amazing sensation again and to do battle with the main players every Sunday."