February 23, 2023 marks two years since the death from Covid-19 of Fausto Gresini, two-time 125cc World Champion and highly successful team manager. Also organized an event in memory of him in Imola
February 23rd
Two years have passed since that sad February 23, 2021. After two months of fighting against Covid in an alternation of optimism and pessimism Fausto Gresini, just turned 60, left. Motorcycling and motorsport lost a protagonist who came from the ranks, one of the most loved and respected in the paddock and outside. Winner of 8 world titles (2 as a driver, 6 as a manager), a talented rider and then a skilled manager, Fausto remains in everyone’s heart as a generous person, of great humility and humanity. Imola, his hometown, has not forgotten one of his best-known and most loved sons and celebrates “his” Fausto with a commemoration at the racetrack. The appointment, open to the public, is at 2 pm in the former Variante Alta, renamed “curva Gresini” in September two years ago. On the occasion, the mural created by Andrea “Fungo” Pelliconi with the unforgettable champion and manager from Imola in the center is inaugurated.
Fighter soul
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As on the track as a runner, Fausto Gresini at the Ospedale Maggiore in Bologna had fought giving all of himself so as not to give in to Covid, the most insidious of opponents. After 35 very hard consecutive days of intensive care, hope had reopened, leading the former Imola champion to hearten his family and friends by telephone: “I won’t give up, you’ll have me back soon”. It was just the latest illusion. The Lady in Black, who had repeatedly chased him in vain on circuits around the world, ended the game in her favor. Fausto Gresini’s earthly race was over. Somewhere in the sky, Fausto is in good company with other centaurs who continue to challenge each other in the oldest race in the universe: that of the Circuits of the Cosmos. From up there, Fausto pushes (not only his beloved and noble Team Gresini Racing today well managed by his wife Nadia Padovani with the contribution of his children Lorenzo, Luca, Alice and Agnese) to always give more, on and off the track, to be worthy of the Great Test: holding on, trying to make it, wanting to win. Leaving not only to themselves, but to everyone, the feeling that the race was and is really worth it, to live it to the fullest, like life.
Eternal boy
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Born in Imola on 23 January 1961, at the age of sixty Fausto had remained the eternally available and generous boy, with his free and curious gaze, with his heart that beat strongly for his lifelong love: motorbikes, racing , the technical and competitive challenge, the tenacity and the sacrifices to achieve, step by step, the pre-established results. Fausto was an evergreen “philosopher” who trained through the ranks: “In life – he said looking into your eyes – there is always something to learn and there is always something to prove, especially in racing”. He words of Fausto winning rider and Fausto winning manager. He is the words of a man without arrogance, actually spoken in a low voice to stimulate dialogue, revive discussion, to build and rebuild always in search of the new, never throwing anything away, always questioning himself and calling himself back. Fausto was a talented pilot, tactically and technically superb, striving for results, capable of obtaining them even by pulling out his claws. Never a word out of place, with a teammate or with the opponents, but woe to play dirty because he repaid immediately with the same coin, plus interest.
Thanks Fausto
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We don’t want to recall here the prestigious palmares of Gresini pilot and his Team. Gresini as a driver always remained in the eighth of a liter, winning races with his heart and championships with his mind. The Gresini manager then capitalized on his “limit” as a rider, leading his team to be a protagonist in all categories. “I am a happy man, I love everyone and this affection is returned to me”: this is how Fausto said of himself. Today up there, his Daijiro Kato and Marco Simoncelli chase each other roaring under the attentive and benevolent gaze of their “Grisu”. We just have to say, with a lump in our throats, thank you Fausto!
February 23, 2023 – 3.20 pm
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