Rising MotoGP star Marco Simoncelli will remain with his current team Gresini Racing and, more importantly, will have a factory-specification Honda for the 2012 season.

The Italian, who had been promoted to MotoGP in 2010, has become a series frontrunner this year, taking pole at Catalunya and Assen during a run of form that saw him qualify on the front row for six straight races.

Gresini said he was delighted that a new deal had been reached with Simoncelli and Honda. Simoncelli is currently eighth in the MotoGP standings with four rounds to go.