The Gresini Racing team has been remarkably successful since it was started in 1997 by Fausto Gresini, double world champion in the 125cc class. Competitive from the start, with Alex Barros aboard a Honda NSR500V twin, the team has racked up numerous wins and podiums, with massive names such as Loris Capirossi, Daijiro Kato, Sete Gibernau, Marco Melandri, Marco Simoncelli, and in more recent years, Enea Bastianini, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Alex Márquez, and of course Marc Márquez.
As the last truly independent team left in the paddock – Tech3, LCR, Pramac, and VR46 all have very strong ties to their manufacturers – it is surprising just how successful they have been. A big part of that success is down to team owner Nadia Padovani, commercial director Carlo Merlini, and team manager Michele Masini, the triumvirate which have carried on the legacy of Fausto Gresini since his death from the COVID-19 virus in February 2021.
What exactly makes Gresini such a successful squad? How do they manage to find the riders they do, and allow them to outperform their expectations? And how are they carrying on the legacy left by the late Fausto Gresini? To find out, I spoke to team manager Michele Masini. Masini talked about his path to team manager, from childhood friend of Marco Simoncelli to managing both Marc and Alex Márquez, on how to build a team, and the dreams and goals of a satellite team.
