From a press release issued by Gresini Racing Honda: For Gresini Racing the 2008 MotoGP season begins with the presentation of the new main sponsor. Occupying the most prominent space on the Honda RC212V of Alex De Angelis and Shinya Nakano will be the SAN CARLO logo, a company that has already been supporting the Italian team for the past two years. Over the last two seasons a shared passion has strengthened the partnership and the company has naturally evolved to become the main sponsor: the team will now be called Team SAN CARLO Honda Gresini. Gresini Racing and San Carlo have quite a few things in common. The Italian team began its world championship career on the initiative of founder Fausto Gresini -twice 125 cc world champion in 1985 and 1987 – and has since achieved outstanding results: the world title with Kato in the 250 class and three MotoGP World Vice-Champion titles with Gibernau and Melandri. San Carlo Gruppo Alimentare S.p.A. was founded in Milan in 1936 by the Vitaloni family as a small “rosticceria”. With the production of their first crunchy crisps, quite a novelty at the time, San Carlo hit the big time: its first ‘production run’ of 20 kilos grew exponentially and today the company has 12 production plants, 2500 employees, 170 depots, 1300 dealers, 200,000 customers and a Europe-wide distribution network. The industry’s leading brand, San Carlo Gruppo Alimentare will continue to use its association with Team Honda Gresini in the MotoGP world championship as a platform on which to develop projects aimed, above all, at the key youth market. The President of San Carlo, Alberto Vitaloni, underlines the importance of the partnership: “This year our alliance aims to build on the excellent results of the first two seasons. In Team Honda Gresini we have found a reliable partner with whom we share goals, values and passion for the sport. We firmly believe in teamwork: working together with a compact, successful motor sports team undoubtedly gives a boost when it comes to developing a sense of belonging and team spirit. It’s values such as these we want to instil in our company and pass on to the young. Moreover, MotoGP is a sport that generates powerful passions, a sport that comes from the heart. The message we aim to give our public, especially the young, is that a company such as ours knows how to keep up with the times, how to set a trend and maintain its leadership in a sharply competitive world. So we feel sure that this season will be steeped in success for both of us.” On his part, Fausto Gresini is raring to do battle under his new colours in what looks like being a highly competitive season: “I’m satisfied and proud of the agreement between the San Carlo Group and Team Gresini: after two seasons this constructive partnership is now stronger than ever and ready to grow. This partnership also constitutes a positive sign for the entire MotoGP environment: a major Italian company has decided to become the main sponsor of an Italian team. A relationship based on mutual respect and shared sporting values. Team San Carlo Honda Gresini now faces a MotoGP season that, as initial testing indicates, will be hard-fought – a championship that will undoubtedly generate massive and passionate public interest. For this season my team has chosen a young rider, Alex De Angelis, who represents the future of MotoGP: already an expert after numerous seasons in 125 and 250, he is starting to show his huge potential in MotoGP too. The decision to go with Alex – to go with youth and look to the future of the world championship – is a really exciting challenge. De Angelis is flanked by another first-class rider, Shinya Nakano: expert, hungry for success and highly motivated. I’m convinced Nakano will have a good season too. Together with the new main sponsor, whose faith in us has been reinforced by two years of positive partnership, it goes without saying that I also want to thank some other key players: Honda and its RC212V, Bridgestone and, of course, my team, whose passion and experience play an essential role in our success.”