Gresini will be at Valencia - http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2011/gresini+will+participate+at+valencia
The MotoGP and Moto2 teams run by Fausto Gresini will be present and on track this weekend at Valencia, with Hiroshi Aoyama riding in the MotoGP class and Michele Pirro and Yuki Takahashi competing in the final Moto2 race of 2011
Team owner Fausto Gresini confirmed the participation of both teams in the final round of the 2011 MotoGP World Championship at Valencia, stating the participation of the teams will be tributes to their fallen rider Marco Simoncelli.
“The decision to participate was not an easy one, but we have made this choice as it is what Marco would have wanted,” said Gresini.
“Going out on track at Valencia is definitely the best way to honour him by doing what he most loved to do: Ride and experience the world of MotoGP. This is why I believe that the best show of affection that we can make to Marco is by lining up our teams and riders for this race.”
“‘Super Sic’ will be present in the hearts of Hiroshi Aoyama, Michele Pirro and Yuki Takahashi, and I am sure that they will give him a most fitting tribute with their performances on Sunday,” he concluded.
Josh Hayes to stand in for Injured Colin Edwards: - http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2011/Josh+Hayes+to+step+in+for+Colin+Edwards+at+Monster+Yamaha+Tech+3+in+Valencia
American Superbike Champion Josh Hayes will replace injured Colin Edwards for this weekend's Valencia MotoGP round in Spain.
The 36-year-old has been drafted in by the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad because Edwards is unable to participate in Valencia while he recovers from injuries sustained during the Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Sepang on October 23.
Edwards was due to make his final appearance for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit after a long and successful career with Yamaha in the MotoGP World Championship, which started back in 2005.
The Texan though will undergo an operation to repair cartilage damage around the top of the humerus bone in his left arm after he was involved in an incident with Marco Simoncelli and Valentino Rossi on the second lap of the Sepang race. Tragically, Simoncelli succumbed to injuries sustained in the accident.
Hayes, who won his second successive American Superbike crown for the Monster Energy Graves Yamaha Team in a dramatic final round in New Jersey, was due to test the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YZR-M1 machine the day after Sunday's final race.
Yamaha US and Monster Energy arranged the test appearance to reward Hayes for capturing the American Superbike title for the second year in succession in 2011.
Hayes will now join British rider Cal Crutchlow when practice for the Valencia round gets underway on Friday morning.
It also looks like Ben Spies will ride.
Jorge Lorenzo will announce if he's racing later in the week.
