Ezpeleta 'deeply saddened' by loss of 'good friend' Fausto Gresini

Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta 'deeply saddened' by the loss of 'very good friend' Fausto Gresini, grateful to have spoken to the Italian while he was in hospital battling Covid complications.
Ezpeleta 'deeply saddened' by loss of 'good friend' Fausto Gresini

UPDATE: The FIM has also released a statement on the passing of Fausto Gresini, in which president Jorge Viegas says: "Fausto Gresini fought for quite a long time to beat this 'invisible enemy' that took one of our heroes away from us. 

"I have learned to appreciate Fausto as a rider first and then as a Team Manager, always at the top of his capabilities. What I will miss the most is the long 'paddock talks' with him, where he always showed to have very wise opinions but also to be one of the best informed team managers,  with an incredible energy and motivation.

"I would like to express here my deepest condolences to his family, to his team and friends, in the name of the FIM and in my personal name."

Dorna Sports, commercial rights holder of the MotoGP World Championship, has released the following statement in memory of 125cc world champion and MotoGP team boss Fausto Gresini.

The Italian, 60, passed away after a two-month battle against severe respiratory problems caused by Covid.

'MotoGP and Dorna Sports are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Fausto Gresini. A two-time World Champion in the 125cc class and a key figure in the paddock as founder of the Gresini Team thereafter, the legendary Italian will be deeply missed.

'Gresini began competing in the 125cc World Championship in 1983 and took his debut win the following season. The year after that he took more wins and podiums on his way to taking the crown for the first time as he won the 1985 125cc World Championship. Runner up in 1986, the Italian fought back to take 10 wins on his way to reclaiming the crown in 1987, cementing his place in Grand Prix history.

'Gresini competed until 1994 and accrued 21 wins overall, becoming one of the most successful riders of his era in the 125cc class. After hanging up his leathers, he then found equal and impressive success as he began a career on the other side of the pit wall.

'His journey as Team Manager began in 1997, and the Gresini team took a World Championship for the first time in 2001 with Japanese rider Daijiro Kato as the two dominated the 250cc class together.

'Further Championships came in 2010 in Moto2 with Toni Elias and 2018 in Moto3 with Jorge Martin, as well as 2019 as the team won the inaugural FIM Enel MotoE World Cup with Matteo Ferrari.

'The teams that bear his name compete across all three classes of the FIM MotoGP World Championship in 2021, from MotoGP to Moto3, as well as MotoE, and will race on in his honour.

'Gresini’s memory will live on both in his achievements on track and his legacy as team founder and manager.

'MotoGP and Dorna Sports extend their deepest condolences to all those the legendary Italian leaves behind; his family, friends, colleagues, teams and more, at this most difficult time.

'Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports: "I'm deeply saddened by the loss of Fausto. He was a very good friend and I liked him a lot.

"I have been following the news on his condition closely and I was lucky enough to be able to speak to him even as he was in hospital.

"I am so very sorry to suffer a loss like this in the paddock and I want to send my deepest condolences to his family, friends and the members of his team."

 

Provisional 2021 MotoGP Calendar

Round

Date

Race

Circuit

1

28 March

Qatar (Evening race)

Losail

2

4 April

Doha (Evening race)

Losail

3

18 April

Portugal

Portimao

4

2 May

Spain

Jerez

5

16 May

France

Le Mans

6

30 May

Italy

Mugello

7

6 June

Catalunya

Barcelona

8

20 June

Germany

Sachsenring

9

27 June

Netherlands

Assen

10

11 July

Finland (Subject to homologation)

KymiRing

11

15 August

Austria

Red Bull Ring

12

29 August

Great Britain

Silverstone

13

12 September

Aragon

Aragon

14

19 September

San Marino e Della Riviera di Rimini

Misano

15

3 October

Japan

Motegi

16

10 October

Thailand

Buriram

17

24 October

Australia

Phillip Island

18

31 October

Malaysia

Sepang

19

14 November

Comunitat Valenciana

Ricardo Tormo

Postponed Grands Prix:
 11 AprilArgentinaTermas
 18 AprilAmericasCOTA
Reserve Grand Prix Venues:
  Indonesia (Subject to homologation)Mandalika
  RussiaIgora Drive
2021 Pre-season Testing:
 5 MarchQatar Shakedown TestLosail
 6-7 MarchQatar Official TestLosail
 10-12 MarchQatar Official TestLosail

 

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