Gresini Honda team boss Fausto Gresini has confirmed that current Hayate MotoGP rider Marco Melandri will join his squad in 2010, lining up alongside fellow Italian and 250GP Champion Marco Simoncelli.

Melandri has ridden for the team before from 2005 to 2007, that saw Melandri take the runner-up spot in the championship, win five races and finish on the podium no fewer than 17 times.

“It gives us great pride and satisfaction to have Marco Melandri back with us I have always had great belief in his potential and to get our sporting and technical project with him back on track following his experiences with other teams creates fresh and important motivation," said Gresini.

"Melandri is a huge part of the Honda Gresini story - we have had great results together that over time consolidated a relationship founded on mutual respect and friendship. Now I am confident we can recreate the past successes that gave us so much joy and excitement. With Simoncelli and Melandri together in the premier class and San Carlo as main sponsor we have a true Italian flavour to the team.

"Circumstances have conspired to allow us to create an “Azzurro Dream Team”, which provides us all with extra motivation. The choice we have made means that we will not be extending our relationship with Elias or De Angelis, but after a start to the season that certainly wasn't easy, thanks to a lot effort from everybody involved we are starting to pick up some good results so I hope we can keep it up until the end of the season and help them find a good ride in MotoGP. I want to thank both of them and wish them a successful future.”