Much-loved MotoGP team boss, Fausto Gresini has passed away after a two-month battle with COVID-19, the team has announced.

Gresini was admitted to hospital on December 27th after contracting COVID-19, today the team announced his death by releasing this statement:
‘The news we would have never wanted to give, and that unfortunately we are forced to share with all of you. After nearly two months battling against Covid, Fausto Gresini has sadly passed away, few days after turning 60‘
‘All of Gresini Racing are close to Fausto’s family in support: his wife Nadia and the four children Lorenzo, Luca, Alice and Agnese… as well as everyone who had the chance to get to know him and love him throughout the years.‘

The former 125cc champion enjoyed a lustrous 12-year career in the Grand Prix 125cc class before eventually moving into team management in 1997. Gresini’s team has won three titles in the smaller classes, with Daijiro Kato in 1997, Toni Elias in the 2010 Moto2 World Championship, and Jorge Martin in 2018. Gresini has also enjoyed premier class success, with Sete Gibernau (8), Marco Melandri (5) and Elias (1) all taking premier class wins.

Gresini became the Factory Aprilia MotoGP team in 2014. The squad will then return to being a fully independent MotoGP entry from 2022.

Featured image: MotoGP.com