Following a long bout with COVID-19, two-time 125cc Grand Prix champion Fausto Gresini died in February, 2021. While both MotoGP and Formula 1 held moments of silence for the influential racer and team boss, Gresini Racing stayed on with the Aprilia Factory team during the 2021 MotoGP season. Prior to Fausto Gresini’s untimely death, he planned to reestablish Gresini Racing as an independent MotoGP in 2022.
With his passing, many in the paddock and in the stands wondered if the Gresini squad would carry out Fausto’s plans. Led by Gresini’s wife, Nadia Padovani, the Gresini Racing team anted up, signing a satellite deal with Ducati and fielding 2020 Moto2 Champion Enea Bastianini and MotoGP rookie Fabio Di Giannantonio.
