MotoGP team boss Gresini hospitalised with COVID-19
Gresini team boss Fausto Gresini has been hospitalised with COVID-19 in Italy having fallen ill shortly before Christmas.
The 59-year-old team owner tested positive for the virus last week and was hospitalised on December 27 at the Sant Maria della Scaletta in Imola.
However, an update from the Gresini team says he was transported to the Maggiore Carlo Pizzardi hospital in nearby Bologna to a specialised COVID-19 care ward. His condition at the time of writing remains unknown.
A brief statement from the Gresini team read: “Following the COVID-19 positivity discovered shortly before the Christmas break, Fausto Gresini - after an initial isolation period at home - was hospitalised on 27 December at the Santa Maria della Scaletta hospital in Imola.
“The Gresini Racing Team Principal was transported today to the Maggiore Carlo Alberto Pizzardi hospital in Bologna, in a more specialised ward for COVID-19 care.
“Fausto's conditions are constantly monitored. Further updates will follow.”
Gresini currently fields Aprilia’s official factory entry in the MotoGP world championship, having joined forces for the marque’s return to the premier class in 2015.
That partnership will continue into 2021, though Gresini announced earlier in December the outfit would become independent again from 2022, with Aprilia set to be a standalone factory team.
Despite MotoGP’s efforts in 2020 to stop the spread of the virus within its paddock, several high-profile members were ultimately forced to miss races having caught the illness between events.
Pramac rider Jorge Martin was absent from the Misano Moto2 double-header after becoming the first rider to test positive, with nine-times grand prix world champion Valentino Rossi forced out of the Aragon rounds after catching the virus.
Yamaha team manager Massimo Meregalli had to miss the Valencia races after one of Maverick Vinales’ crew tested positive for the virus, with several other Yamaha members absent from the French and Aragon GPs after a positive test within that bubble.
Despite the virus situation escalating again across Europe, MotoGP is still on course to make it to the first pre-season test of 2021 in Malaysia in late February as series organisers work on a plan with the local government to bypass the mandatory quarantine period for travellers.
Related video
MotoGP working on plans to run Sepang test in February
Zarco: Rookie Martin "has talent to adapt well" to MotoGP
Why Ducati holds all the power in its MotoGP rider dilemma
OPINION: The French Grand Prix looks to have made Ducati’s decision on its factory team line-up simpler, as Enea Bastianini stormed to his third win of the campaign and Jorge Martin crashed out for a fifth time in 2022. But, as Ducati suggests to Motorsport.com, it remains in the strongest position in a wild rider market
The seismic aftershock of Suzuki's decision to leave MotoGP
Suzuki's sudden decision to leave the MotoGP World Championship at the end of the season has acted as a stirring element in a market that had already erupted. We analyse what this means for the grid going into 2023
How the real Ducati began to emerge in MotoGP's Spanish GP
Ducati’s 2022 MotoGP bike has had a tough start to life and the expected early-season title charge from Francesco Bagnaia did not materialise. But the Spanish Grand Prix signalled a turning point for both the GP22 and Bagnaia, as the 2021 runner-up belatedly got his season underway after a straight fight with Fabio Quartararo
How praise for Honda's MotoGP bike has given way to doubt
In a little over two months, Honda has gone from setting the pace in MotoGP testing with its new RC213V prototype to being at a crossroads - caused by the discrepancy in its riders' feedback. After a Portuguese GP that underwhelmed, serious questions are now being asked of Honda in 2022
Why Quartararo's win was vital not only for his title hopes
Fabio Quartararo got his MotoGP title defence off the ground in the Portuguese Grand Prix as a dominant first win of 2022 rocketed him to the top of the standings. While a significant result in terms of his title hopes, it has come at an even more important time in terms of his 2023 contract negotiations
The MotoGP rookie fighting two fronts in his debut year
Darryn Binder has found himself in the unenviable position as MotoGP's most under-pressure rookie in 2022 having made the step directly from Moto3 with a reputation as an over-aggressive rider. This hasn't been an easy thing to shake at the start of the season, but he believes tangible progress is being made
How ‘Beast’ mode is putting Ducati in 2022 MotoGP title contention
Enea Bastianini’s second win of the 2022 campaign at COTA puts him back in the lead of the standings and once again showed the best Ducati package is still the 2021 bike. Those closest to Bastianini tell Motorsport.com why he’s so good on the GP21 relative to his factory counterparts.
How Espargaro helped Aprilia shed MotoGP's underdog tag
Aleix Espargaro became MotoGP's newest winner in a thrilling Argentina Grand Prix in which he also proved the merits of the Aprilia project. After six years of hard graft, both parties have reaped the rewards they have long thought they deserved. But it was several key moments in that journey that led both to that momentous Sunday at Termas de Rio Hondo.