Fausto Gresini has questioned wither his rider Hiroshi Aoyama has the "required determination" to succeed in MotoGP.
Former 250cc world champion Aoyama, yet to sign for 2012, starts this weekend's Australian Grand Prix holding tenth in the world championship, with a best finish of fourth in the wet Jerez race.
Aoyama, who unlike Honda Gresini team-mate Marco Simoncelli has a satellite spec RC212V, finished ninth in front of his home fans last time out at Motegi.
"I hope Phillip Island gives Hiroshi a chance to make up for his disappointment at Motegi, when he was unable to secure the result he was hoping for in front of his home crowd," said Gresini. "Hiroshi has the potential to be a leading rider in MotoGP but maybe he is missing the required determination.”
Aoyama admits he hasn't been able to show his 'true potential', but insists motivation is not an issue.
“I really wanted to score a positive result at my home grand prix but I didn't manage it," he said. "We had some grip problems that prevented me from being consistent in the race which was a real shame in front of my home fans.
"Now we go to Phillip Island, a circuit I love as long as the weather isn't too cold. If the conditions are good I enjoy riding there and I particularly like the atmosphere in Australia.
"I am desperate to have a full grand prix weekend where I show my true potential and hopefully along with the team we can create the right conditions to achieve it. We only have three races left so that is all the motivation we need.”
source: crash
