Gresini feared MotoGP team would fold after team owner’s death – Motorsport. com

Double 125cc world champion Gresini tragically lost his life in February following a lengthy battle with COVID-19.

The team reaffirmed its commitment to MotoGP in the wake of Gresini’s death, along with his wife Nadia Padovani taking over as team owner and principal.

The particular Gresini squad enjoyed its strongest season with Aprilia in 2021, scoring a breakthrough podium for the marque at Silverstone with Aleix Espargaro, while Fabio Di Giannantonio won the Moto2 Spanish Grand Prix for the team.

“Yeah, 2021 has been so far the very difficult year for us, ” Carlo Merlini, Gresini Commercial & Marketing Director, said.

“We started back in February with the loss of Fausto, which created an enormous empty space from both sides – emotional and also professional.

“The space left was so big that for some time we thought we were not going to make it.

“But that will lasted a very short time, because immediately after Fausto’s family, Nadia, everyone wanted to cover, in order to jump on board and push everything forward – the dream, the particular project, the legacy.

“And a few months right after, thinking back, the other option would have already been to stop.

“I think everybody now is happy to see Team Gresini still within the paddock and continuing the project.

“It was very important with regard to us to receive help plus support through everyone in the paddock.

“The results on track have been good, I’m sure Fausto might have loved to have seen Aprilia on the podium after seven years associated with working together.

“We were back again winning races in Moto2. So , I hope he was looking down upon us and cheering regarding us furthermore. ”

Gresini has returned to being a true independent team intended for 2022 and will field Ducati machinery, having last run as the satellite squad in 2014 before this joined forced with Aprilia.

It will field Enea Bastainini – who raced to get Gresini within Moto3 from 2014-2018 – and Pada Giannantonio, with the pair getting year-old Ducatis.

Gresini will be one of three Ducati satellite teams in 2022, bringing the total of Desmosedicis on the particular grid up to eight between the factory Ducati squad, Pramac, Gresini plus VR46.