Both the Formula 1 and MotoGP world championships will unite to honour the late Fausto Gresini with a minutes silence ahead of its respective races on Sunday.
Gresini passed away in February at the age of 60 following a two-month battle with Covid-19, the double 125cc world champion leaving behind a strong legacy that will be remembered not just in two-wheeled racing circles but four too.
As a result F1 and MotoGP- which have enjoyed a close partnership in recent months due to the relationship between its respective CEO’s Stefano Domenicali and Carmelo Ezpeleta- will hold a minutes silence for Gresini ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix near his home in Imola, as well as at the Portuguese MotoGP contest at the Algarve International Circuit.
Members of Gresini’s family will be present at the Emilia Romagna F1 event to observe the silence alongside Domenicali in parc ferme while the entire roster of MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 teams and riders-alongside Ezpeleta and FIM president Jorge Viegas- will gather outside the Aprilia Team Gresini team pit that bears his name to honour the Italian.
The series’ respective silences will be held at the same time, though due to the time difference the official times of the silence will be 12:42 local time in Portimao and at 13:42 local in Imola.
Following his successful lightweight motorcycle grand prix racing career that earned him a pair of titles as well as 21 victories, Gresini moved into team ownership following his retirement in 1997.
His squad has competed in all three categories of grand prix competition over the succeeding two decades, culminating in four world titles won in 250cc, Moto2, Moto3 and the fledgling all-electric MotoE world championships.
Gresini Racing also managed 14 wins in MotoGP across 15 seasons running satellite-spec Honda’s before moving to become Aprilia’s official factory operation in ’15, all under the watch of the ever present Gresini.
The team is set to return to independent status for ’22 following Aprilia’s decision to go it alone for next season, with the machinery it is set to use currently undisclosed.
