BOLOGNA, Italy — Fausto Gresini, a former motorcycling world champion and team owner, died Tuesday from complications linked to the coronavirus. He was 60.
Gresini Racing said he died in the hospital in Bologna, exactly a month after his 60th birthday. It also posted the news on its official Twitter account.
« The news we would have never wanted to give, and that unfortunately we are forced to share with all of you, » the team said. « After nearly two months battling against Covid, Fausto Gresini has sadly passed away, few days after turning 60. #CiaoFausto. »
Gresini won two world titles in the 125cc class, in 1985 and 1987. He retired as a rider in 1994 and founded his team three years later.
Gresini tested positive for COVID-19 in December. He was hospitalized on Dec. 27 after an initial period at home.
He appeared to slowly improve but his condition worsened this month and he developed a serious lung infection.
Gresini Racing has had success in all classes, although the closest it has come to winning the MotoGP title was two second-place finishes with Sete Gibernau and Marco Melandri, in 2004 and 2005, respectively.
https://www.espn.com/racing/story/_/id/30950123/former-motorcycling-world-champion-fausto-gresini-dies-covid-19-60
