Melandri: Simoncelli will have factory Honda.

Marco Melandri has stated that his 2010 Gresini Honda team-mate Marco Simoncelli will have a factory spec bike, and be the team's number one rider.

Melandri, who took five race wins during three previous seasons at Gresini and finished second in the 2005 world championship, was confirmed as returning to the team in 2010 during this weekend's Czech Republic Grand Prix.

"I'm moving back with Fausto. I had three very good years with him, then two difficult years [at Ducati and Hayate] but gained good experience, so I will be a little bit more mature," Melandri told the official MotoGP website.

Despite his past success, Melandri believes it will be reigning 250cc world champion Simoncelli who gets a factory-spec RC212V, for his rookie season in the premier-class.

"For sure Simoncelli has the HRC bike so he will be the number one rider, but I just want to do my best and see what's going on," said Melandri.