Fausto Gresini

Who is Fausto Gresini?

Fausto Gresini is an Italian former Grand Prix motorcycle road racing World Champion. He is currently team manager for the Gresini Honda MotoGP team.

Gresini was born at Imola. He began racing in 1978 at the age of 17 on a Minarelli 50 in Italy, and in 1983 he joined the Grand Prix circuit with the MBA team.

During his riding career, Gresini won two world championship titles in the 125cc class in 1985 and 1987. He was vice-champion in the 125cc class in 1986 aboard a Garelli and in 1991 and 1992 with Honda. He accumulated 21 victories and raced in 132 Grand Prix with 15 second places and 11 third places. He is tied with Ángel Nieto for the record of 11 consecutive victories in the 125 class, accomplished across 1986 and 1987. He holds the record of the most 125cc victories in one season with ten in 1987 - he crashed in the final race but won all others.

Gresini currently manages the Gresini Honda MotoGP team. His team has won two world championships with Daijiro Kato winning the 2001 250cc world championship, and Toni Elías winning the 2010 Moto2 world championship. Kato was killed during the 2003 Japanese Grand Prix on 6 April 2003. On 23 October 2011, the Gresini team suffered another loss when rider Marco Simoncelli was killed after an accident at the Malaysian Grand Prix. The team's other rider is Hiroshi Aoyama.