Italian team leader Fausto Gresini is one of the most omnipresent men in the paddock with a team entered in each of the three categories. Aprilia Racing Team Gresini supplies RS-GP to Aleix Espargaró et Andrea Iannone in MotoGP, while in Moto2 Nicholas Bulega et Edgar Pons make up the Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 team, and finally in Moto3 the Kömmerling Gresini Moto3 team counts on Gabriel Rodrigo and Jeremy Alcoba.
At the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix, Rodrigo was the brightest element with sixth place, while Alcoba finished seventh, Edgar Pons sixteenth and Nicolò Bulega eighteenth.
“I've been traveling since I was 17, so I didn't know what it meant to stay at home, and in this recent period I realized that I missed competitions. I'm not used to watching races from home. ", declared the former 125 cm3 World Champion in 1985 and 1987 on Garelli to Andrea Rossi of GPOne.com.
“This year, we expected a lot from Qatar because Márquez was in difficulty and he would have started on the wrong foot. It was difficult for Honda, because Yamaha and Suzuki showed they could be in the game. Ducati suffered with the tires and it took them a while; more than that, it took time to test them, just like in Aprilia, although for different reasons. The Noale factory has done a great job, the bike is competitive with the previous one and not yet fully developed. »
Andrea Iannone's 18-month suspension for doping was not without creating delicate problems for the team, as well as for the manufacturer Aprilia.
“I believe that Iannone did not deserve what happened. I didn't quite understand this penalty. If he is innocent, why was he convicted? Then 18 months is a very long time for an athlete, it practically kills his career. Let's hope that justice will be served by the CAS, and we know that other athletes have won. Aprilia has invested in Iannone and for them, everything changes compared to the initial plan. »
How does Fausto analyze the current season?
“I feel worried because we are an international championship and to date there is no compromise. I spoke to Carmelo Ezpeleta and I know from him that Dorna is doing everything to start the championship, but at the moment it's really difficult, we are like a motorcycle stopped on the highway. »
“We hope to find the right path soon, but it won’t be easy. I hope to be able to start in July-August and do a dozen races, something like that. But our world needs certainty. »
The economic question is also important for all teams. Fausto Gresini has some ideas on this subject.
“This emergency has put everyone in difficulty, even from an economic point of view because motorcycles today are not selling, something would have to change. Moto3 and Moto2 will have to be frozen, we should reduce costs and restarting the World Championship will be difficult. »
“It will be a special moment, even complicated to imagine. I wrote an email to Ezpeleta explaining my views on the reboot and the future. »
“It is difficult to lead a team, we are well structured and prepared, but we are suffering. I can imagine the smaller teams and I don't know if it will be possible for everyone to start again as before. At Gresini we are used to it, with the financial crisis in 2008, and in 2014 with the loss of our sponsor, we have already had to face situations like this. »
“Unfortunately, every day, races are canceled or postponed, I try to stay positive but I see that the objective is slipping away. My team is a real family, and for the whole team it's not just a job to earn money, we are all fans and we want to win. »
Source: GPOne.com
Photos © Mirk_One and OneStudio.it for Gresini Racing
