Pramac Pons launch Camel colours.

The Camel Pramac Pons team was officially launched in Barcelona, Spain, last night (Friday).

Over 200 guests packed the Agora exhibition room at the Grand Marina Hotel in the Port area to witness the unveiling of the new Camel livery for the team that will challenge for World Championship honours in the 16 round series.

"When Sito told me we would have Max [Biaggi] and Tohru [Ukawa] riding for us this season, it was the cherry on the top of the cake," explained Roberto Zanni from JT-International, owners of the Camel brand. "I honestly believe with Honda Pons and the two riders, we will be challenging for victories and ultimately the World Championship.

"As you can imagine we have many requests for sponsorship but we knew that MotoGP and the Honda Pons team was perfect for the Camel brand that has such a pedigree in World Championship Motorsport."

Team Manager sito Pons welcomed Camel to MotoGP and also thanked Corporate Partners Pramac and Correos, Technical Partners ExxonMobil and the Honda Racing Corporation for their support.

"We have a fantastic new title sponsor for the next three years and two riders who finished second and third in last year's MotoGP World Championship," enthused former double World Champion Pons. "The team has been racing for 21 years and I think this season we have a real chance of challenging for the Championship with Max and Tohru."

Biaggi fans may well be in for a shock, however, when they see the Roman Emperor - in Marlboro red for the past few seasons - appearing in 'Rossi yellow' for 2003!