Gresini Racing and Federal Oil have announced that they will move into a third year of partnership for the 2014 Moto2™ season, while also announcing that Belgium’s Xavier Simeon will be switching to the Italian outfit.

24-year-old Simeon will make the switch from Maptaq SAG Zelos Team, having impressed this year with a maiden World Championship podium finish at Le Mans as well as pole position at the Sachsenring plus another front row start at Motegi.

For Federal Oil, market leader in Indonesia for motorcycle lubricants, the Gresini Moto2™ project represents an important global marketing tool whilst for Gresini Racing the relationship presents a valuable opportunity to develop their racing programme in Indonesia, a nation with an expanding market for motorcycles and where MotoGP enjoys huge media and public interest.

Fausto Gresini, team owner:

“I am very proud to be renewing our partnership with such an important company as Federal Oil. Over the past two seasons our relationship has grown stronger and it is fair to say that we share the same values and the same vision for the future. For 2014 we have set ourselves the objective of being consistent front-runners as we look to give credibility and exposure to the project, as Federal Oil continue their international expansion. We will do this together with Xavier Simeon, a rider we believe offers us the guarantee of a championship challenge in Moto2™ and who we think can take the colours of Gresini Racing back to where they were when Toni Elias won the title back in 2010.”

Patrick Adhiatmadja, President Director and CEO of Federal Oil:

“We are delighted that Gresini Racing is continuing to partner with Federal Oil for the third consecutive year. Our renewed partnership with Gresini Racing allows us to continue developing Federal Oil’s brand image as an Indonesian pride – modern lubricant brand. We are more than happy to welcome Xavier Simeon as Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 rider for 2014. People at Federal Oil, as well as our broad customer fans, who are passionate followers of Moto2™ World Championship, would love to see the Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 Team soar to the top chart of the series. We would like to thank Doni Tata Pradita for a relentless effort in Moto2™ during the 2013 season and wish him all the best for his future endeavours.”

Xavier Simeon:

“I am very happy to be joining a team with the ambition of Team Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 for 2014. Gresini Racing and Federal Oil want to be fighting at the front and I am proud that they have chosen me to help them achieve this objective. I believe in the professionalism of Fausto's team and I am sure that their technical expertise can help me challenge for important results. I feel happy that from Valencia onwards I will be able to start planning for this exciting new adventure and I want to thank Fausto, Federal Oil and my management Zelos for making it possible. Hopefully I can pay them all back in the right way.”

2014 will mark Simeon’s fifth year of competition in the Moto2™ World Championship.