"The news that we never wanted to give you and that we are forced to write. After two months of fighting covid, Fausto Gresini leaves us with just 60 years old, Ciao Fausto".
So the Gresini Team announces the death of the former driver and manager of the team that bears his name.
The news we would have never wanted to give, and that unfortunately we are forced to share with all of you.
After nearly two months battling against Covid, Fausto Gresini has sadly passed away, few days after turning 60. #CiaoFausto pic.twitter.com/mHMsDgunmb
- Gresini Racing (@GresiniRacing) February 23, 2021
Fausto Gresini, therefore, did not make it.
After almost two months of struggle in the hospital, lived in a flurry of recovery hopes and sudden worsening, Covid defeated him and took away one of the most important and well-known personalities of Italian motorcycling.
Twice world champion as a driver in the mid-eighties, with the 125, 60 years old on 23 January, as a hospitalized, after retiring he had a career as a top manager on two wheels, founding the team that bears his name and of which he was team principal: he triumphed in Moto3, 250, Moto2 and MotoE and is now present in MotoGp with Aprilia.
Marco Simoncelli was racing for him, with Honda, when he died in 2011 in Sepang.
Look at the photos
Fausto Gresini, a life for motorcycles
He has always had a special relationship with the driver from Coriano and with his Gresini family.
Born in Imola, a city of engines, Gresini made his debut in the world championship by participating in the 1982 GP of Nations, which did not end due to a retirement.
He has always competed only in the 125cc, winning his first world title in 1985. The following year he won four GPs (in Spain, Europe, Sweden and Germany), but was overcome, one of his great regrets along with that of never having raced in 250, only 12 lengths by Luca Cadalora, who became world champion.
The revenge in 1987, when he won 10 of the 11 races on the calendar.
He divorced at the end of 1988 from Garelli and moved to Aprilia, then to Honda.
A much loved member of the MotoGP family has sadly left us
Fausto Gresini was a colleague to many, a friend to all and will be sorely, sorely missed.
Our thoughts go out to his family and loved ones
Rest in peace Fausto pic.twitter.com/qWfP34BIpa
- MotoGP ™ (@MotoGP) February 23, 2021
Injuries did not spare him, but he finished two more times second overall, in 1991 behind teammate Capirossi and in 1992. He announced his retirement before the 1995 season. In 1997 the team in his name was born, based in Faenza .
Among the drivers of his team, over the years, Alex Barros, Tony Elias, Loris Capirossi, Marco Melandri, Sete Gibernau, Alex De Angelis, Jorge Martin, Matteo Ferrari.
Victories, but also mourning: Daijiro Kato, who died in Suzuka in 2003, then Simoncelli.
Del Sic, in a recent interview, Gresini spoke of as "a true warrior, he liked to fight, he liked hand to hand, he never pulled back. He enjoyed these things, even if he took the door, he didn't get angry, laughed. He said, 'Oh, I got it, I'll give it back tomorrow.
On the other hand, he said of himself that he felt like a "differently young man, always on the attack, always on the front line, always with new projects. Always with some dreams in the drawer. change profession ".
Covid hit him in December and after a few days in the Imola hospital, his condition required hospitalization at the Maggiore of Bologna, in intensive care.
Constant updates of the team on social networks, with a birthday party organized online, a presentation of the team with the mind turned to him and his son Lorenzo to act as a link with friends and fans.
