On January 26th, Fausto Gresini sent a positive text message to Lucio Cecchinello. He said he was over the mountain. But the condition of the ex-world champion soon worsened dramatically.
Fausto Gresini was admitted to hospital on December 27th because of his Covid-19 infection, where he spent weeks in an artificial coma and in intensive care, mostly with artificial respiration. The two-time 125 cc world champion was transferred from the hospital in Imola to the intensive care unit of the Carlo Alberto Pizzardi hospital in Bologna after a few days because his condition had deteriorated and he could be better cared for there.
Last Monday it was reported from Italy that Fausto Gresini had suffered a cerebral haemorrhage. That meant mortal danger. This is because the blood flowing out presses on the tissue from the inside and clamps off other blood vessels in this area. As a result, the surrounding brain tissue dies – like a stroke.
On Tuesday, Gresini Racing confirmed the death of the 60-year-old team owner, father and husband of four, who was buried in close family yesterday.
LCR Honda team owner Lucio Cecchinello, a 125 cc racing driver and team owner who has rivaled Gresini for almost 39 years, has been in constant contact with Fausto Gresini and his team for the past two months.
Was Lucio seriously worried about the life of his compatriot, nine years his senior, during this phase, in which there was alternating positive news and then again worrying reports?
Ceccinello: «I exchanged text messages with Fausto a couple of times, so we stayed in contact. I received the last text message from him on January 26th. He wrote to me that he was healed and happy because his life was no longer in danger. But unfortunately, a few days later, his condition deteriorated drastically again. “
Lucio Cecchinello observed with growing concern that Gresini’s condition was severely restricted. There were several threatening setbacks. «Fausto was kept in a coma as soon as his situation worsened. Then the doctors let him wake up again. But then a tracheotomy had to be made, the fever rose again, and his condition worsened. It went up and down. If I understood correctly, there was also an infection in the end. “
The motorcycle GP community has lost its first popular member, Gresini, due to Corona. At the age of 60, the 21-time GP winner was not yet part of the risk group; no previous illnesses were known.
“To be honest, nobody understands why Fausto got it so badly,” sighs Lucio Cecchinello, visibly affected in an interview with SPEEDWEEK.com.
Yesterday the Gresini family announced that Gresini Racing would continue to be part of GP racing. Participation in the Moto3, Moto2, MotoGP with Aprilia and MotoE classes are fixed.
But after the 2021 season, Aprilia Racing separated after seven years and the team had to find a new motorcycle partner. Suzuki, Ducati or KTM are imaginable. A main sponsor for the MotoGP class has to be found for this, as the budget has been largely secured by Aprilia Racing so far. Fausto Gresini emphasized in December that under no circumstances would he be driving Aprilia in 2022. He was hoping for a deal with Suzuki.
So far, apart from Fausto, nobody from the Gresini family has been involved in leading the team. Fausto ran the business with the commercial director Carlo Merlini.
Cecchinello is convinced that “the team is in good hands again commercially with Carlo Merlini”. «Of course Fausto was a genius. He was the best person when it came to discovering new young talent. And he had a unique instinct for selecting first-class engineers and technicians. Maybe Carlo needs some support and advice in this area in the future. But I can imagine race engineer Fabrizio Cecchini, who worked for Gresini for many years and is now with Aprilia, returning to Gresini Racing. He is a top man who can not only take care of the technology, but also the driver selection. He also knows the company inside out, he knows the family. He helped Fausto build up this racing team for many years. “
Son Lorenzo Gresini is likely to also play a role in the team. «Lorenzo was a racing driver himself, he is 23 years old. I think it’s an opportunity for him to start a new chapter in his life, ”says Cecchinello.
Gresini’s successes as a racing driver:
1983 – 125 cc World Championship 9. on MBA and Garelli
1984 – 125 cc World Championship 3. on MBA and Garelli
1985 – 125cc World Champion on Garelli
1986 – 125cc runner-up on a Garelli
1987 – 125cc World Champion on Garelli
1988 – 125 cc-WM-21. on Garelli
1989 – 125 cc-WM-5. on Garelli
1990 – Italian 125cc champion on a Honda
1990 – 125 cc World Championship 7. on Honda
1991 – 125 cc runner-up on a Honda
1992 – 125cc runner-up on a Honda
1993 – 125 cc World Championship 11. on Honda
1994 – 125 cc World Championship 16. on Honda
21 Grand-Prix-Siege
Four titles as a team owner
2001: Daijiro Kato, Honda, 250 ccm
2010: Toni Elias, Moriwaki, Moto2
2018: Jorge Martin, Honda, Moto3
2019: Matteo Ferrari, Energica, MotoE-Weltcup
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