DeGraaf team focuses on GP250 with Janssen, Aoki.

This weekend, Arie Molenaar's DeGraaf Grand Prix team participates in its first MotoGP test at the IRTA-organised sessions in Valencia.

Riding one of the team's two Hondas will be 26-year 'young' Dutch rider Jarno Janssen, who is making a comeback to the grand prix scene after a year out competing in the European Championship. The Dutchman forms the two-rider line-up with former 125cc world champion Haruchika Aoki, whom Molenaar signed earlier in the winter break.

Aoki and Janssen will each race a Honda RS250R, Janssen with a Honda HRC A-kit and Aoki - back in 250cc after three years of 500cc and world superbike - undertaking development on the Honda RS250RW, the evolution bike for 2003's Honda RS250 production racer. The Honda RS250RW looks similar as last year's NSR bikes, but the semi-works Gresini team's Roberto Rolfo and Emilio Alzamora will ride the NSR, while Aoki undertakes his development duties.

"We aim for top results," confirmed Molenaar, "Especially as we will test lots of new development-parts during the coming season."

The main sponsorship for the team comes from major Dutch temporary employment agencies DeGraaf Technical Personnel.

With Janssen back in GPs, the Netherlands will field two riders in the three championships - Janssen and Jurgen van der Goorbergh - following the switch of Barry Veneman to the World Supersport championship this season. Janssen, who raced in the 250cc GPs of 1999 and 2000, hopes to raise his skills in the presence of his experienced team-mate.

"Haruchika raced in 114 GPs, and won nine in 125cc, so he can be a perfect tutor for me," the Dutchman said, despite learning much in the past year. He was leading last years 250cc European Championship until the very last race, when an unfortunate crash in the final round caused him to finish fourth overall.

"This very first test session of this season in Valencia will be used as a shakedown for the bikes, which were flown in from Japan only last weekend," said chief mechanic and former nine-time GP winner, Hans Spaan.

"The RSW for Aoki is fully built-up and prepared by two Japanese mechanics at the HRC factory team. Jarno's bikes will be ready just in time for today's first practice sessions"

Molenaar confirmed that there would be an official pre-season presentation for the team, in which the new colours and other sponsors would be revealed, in mid-March.