MotoGP: Gresini Racing unveil colourful 2022 livery

The first livery of the 2022 MotoGP season has been unveiled with Gresini Racing revealing their striking new design. 

The Italian team is returning to its status of being a sole independent team this year following its seven-year partnership with Aprilia – who now become a full factory squad.

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Gresini have signed a two-year contract with Ducati which will see Enea Bastianini and premier class rookie Fabio di Giannantonio ride Desmocedici GP21 bikes. The team will receive full support from Ducati Corse in 2022. 

Both riders will certainly be easy to spot on TV due to the striking new livery which has been designed by Aldo Drudi – Who has designed several helmets for Valentino Rossi. The bold design is primarily a grey/blue colour, featuring dashes of traditional Ducati red.

“The new colours of the bike are very particular, when I saw it first it appears a little strange to me, but now that I see it live, I can say it is amazing,” Bastianini said. “Such a great bike can’t be but fast! In about twenty days we’ll be leaving for the tests, luckily it is just a short time because I’m way too excited to be back on my Ducati.”

Bastianini will be looking to build on a successful maiden campaign which saw him claim two podiums on a GP19 Ducati (Misano X2). Meanwhile, Di Giannantonio moves into MotoGP after spending three seasons in Moto2. During that time, the Italian recorded one victory (Jerez 2021) and eight podiums.

“2022 is just around the corner,” Di Giannantonio said. “It will be my first season in MotoGP, and it will be so cool! I will have a lot to learn, my expectation is to grow race by race and who knows, we’ll may be able to collect even some great achievements. In a bit we’ll be back on track for the test, we’re going in Malaysia and Indonesia is following. I can’t wait to ride again this beautiful beast.

The winter break is always too long, I’m counting the days, the hours! And the bike is spectacular, maybe the most beautiful I’ve ever ride, the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. With that unique main colour, it looks like a bike of the 70’s, retrò style, on track we’ll be recognizable for sure. Particular, original, BEAUTIFUL. A unique emotion.”

The Gresini team’s plans for 2022 were up in the air following the passing of team founder and boss Fausto Gresini. However, they continued with their original plan and Fausto’s wife Nadia Padovani now leads the MotoGP project.

“We’re finally presenting a project we strongly believed in and one we have been working non-stop for during the last year,” Padovani said. “We’re very motivated and we ended up being the first MotoGP team to present itself; plus, I believe our bikes are beautiful – and I hope all the others will like them, too.

“I would like to think Fausto is looking at us from above and that is proud of his family. There is almost no distinction between natural and work families, we’re one. I must say that I saw both Diggia and Enea in great shape and eager to start. We’re aiming at being among the protagonists and show up at the parc fermé sometimes.”

Di Giannantonio will begin his pre-season schedule at Sepang on January 31 for the official two-day Shakedown Test. Both riders will then be in action for the official test at the same circuit on February 5-6.