Michele Pirro to ride Gresini-FTR 1000cc MotoGP bike

Fausto Gresini has confirmed that Michele Pirro will be promoted from his Moto2 squad to ride a new Honda CBR1000RR-powered MotoGP machine in 2012.

The new machine will form part of the new CRT rules in MotoGP and will run a chassis designed and built by British specialists FTR.

Italian Pirro moves to MotoGP having claimed an emotional victory in the season’s final Moto2 race in Valencia last month when he won just a fortnight following the tragic death of Gresini Honda star Marco Simoncelli in Sepang.

Gresini will also run Spaniard Alvaro Bautista on a prototype Honda RC213V machine next season after he moved following the demise of Suzuki’s factory squad.

British rider Gino Rea is also expected to ride for the Gresini Moto2 squad.