Honda Boss, Shuhei Nakamoto said he would not employ the three riders on the next season. Andrea Dovizioso of the Repsol Honda, and even of Gresini Honda's Marco Simoncelli, would have officially lost the support of the Japanese team.
This year, Honda decided to use three drivers, after Casey Stoner joined by Dani Pedrosa and Dovizioso on the team. As for Simoncelli, although the Gresini squad, but the spiky Italian is still using the same motor as the three riders.
Nakamoto said Honda's budget will be reduced from next year, so steps must be taken. Thus, there are consequences he continued, is streamlining the squad with only retain Stoner and Pedrosa for the 2012 season.
"These are difficult times, the economic crisis is far from over," Nakamoto said as quoted by the magazine Motosprint.
"On top of that, Japan has some major problems because of the disaster that occurred last spring. All of our industrial sector has slowed down production by 30 percent, and Honda is not immune from it. So, we must also cut costs next year."
"If I was forced to make an announcement today relating to the Honda rider who was hired in 2012, then I can only speak about teamwork because of Stoner and Pedrosa, who still had a contract for next season. So, I have to say goodbye to Simoncelli and Dovizioso .
"I've asked them to wait and be patient: we're trying to resolve the situation, which is fundamentally related to financial issues. The budget will be cut, but I do not know how big. In mid-August, things will become clearer."
Motosprint reported that in the 2012 season, when the switch to MotoGP 1.000cc engines, Honda will only put four riders: two worked for the factory team, and the two become a satellite team rider.
In the 2011 MotoGP, Japanese manufacturers are placing six motor.
