Ciao Fausto

Fausto Gresini in his racing days

On 23rd February 2021, we lost an icon of motorcycle racing. Fausto Gresini sadly lost his fight against Covid-19 and the entire paddock is worse off for his absence. The man was not only a double World Champion himself, he helped many riders on to achieve their own dreams in Grand Prix racing and I think a legend like that deserves to be honored. So, in tribute, here are the great man's highlights - may he Rest in Peace.

Gresini was born in Imola on January 23rd 1961. Of course, coming from an area that boasts one of the greatest race tracks in the world, it was almost pre-destined that the man would become a racer.

And what a racer he was. In the 11 years he was actively racing; the man won the 125cc World Title twice - once in 1985 and once in 1987 - both times on Garelli machinery. He also piloted his Garelli bike to claim Vice-Champion in 1986, as well as in 1991 and 1992, following his switch to Honda machinery. Over the course of his career, he took 21 race wins and 47 podium finishes overall. He holds the record for most race wins in one season (10) and he is tied with Angel Nieto for the most consecutive race wins (11 in a row).

But the glory didn't stop once he retired from active racing.

Alex Barros and the Gresini Racing Team - 1997

In 1997, he founded the Gresini Racing Team in partnership with Honda, and thus began his role as a mentor figure who helped many more legends achieve victory at Grand Prix level. The Gresini team has thus far competed in the 500cc class, the 250cc class, Moto3 and Moto2.

The team scored a podium with Alex Barros in their very first year of racing, and it was just the first of many. In their first two years as a team, Gresini took 3 podium finishes, and improved from 9th place in the 500cc championship, to 5th.

As they moved into the 250cc class, the team had learned enough race craft to be genuine championship contenders, taking consecutive 3rd place finishes in the overall championship in 1999 and 2000. In these years, they also learned how to achieve race wins, taking 7 in total, as well as 18 podiums.

In 2001, the team won its first World Title in the 250cc class, with a dominant Daijiro Kato taking 11 race wins out of a potential 16. This dominant title claim saw Kato move up into the MotoGP class, and the team followed him there.

Daijiro Kato winning the World Title - 2001

Over the course of their time in the MotoGP class, Gresini Racing managed to bring their riders to Vice-Championship glory three times: in 2003 and 2004 with Sete Gibernau, as well as in 2005 with Marco Melandri. 

These successes opened other avenues for the Gresini team, and what started as a single team in the top category of Grand Prix motorcycle racing, culminated in permanent positions on the Moto3, Moto2 and MotoE grids. 

Following countless victories and podiums across these categories, a few stand out: the first World Championship title in Moto2 with Toni Elias in 2010, a one-two for the team in the Moto 3 World Championship in 2018 with Jorge Martin winning the title and Fabio Diggiannantonio as runner up, the World Championship title in the inaugural MotoE with Matteo Ferrari.

Jorge Martin winning the World Title - 2018

Success has followed the Gresini name down the years, and it can all be traced back to Fausto. Countless riders, both past and present, owe their careers to Gresini and I am sure they mourn the man for everything he helped them achieve.

It will be both heartbreaking and inspiring to see the Gresini name as it continues to participate on the world stage without its leader, but I am sure they will never forget their history, or the man who brought them to greatness. 

Ciao Fausto, thank you for everything.