How Nadia Padovani is leading Gresini Racing full throttle
- Silvia Cojocaru
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
Written by Silvia Cojocaru, Edited by Dhara Dave
Over the past couple of years, Gresini Racing made some important steps towards becoming one of the strongest teams on the grid. This evolution wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of Nadia Padovani and her incredible work leading the team.
A challenging start
Two-time 125cc champion Fausto Gresini founded the team in 1997, and after his death in 2021, Padovani decided to continue his legacy herself.
Despite having worked as a nurse and having no previous experience in racing, she made one of the most difficult decisions she ever had to make and stepped up to the task. She dealt with the grief and became the first woman to lead a MotoGP team.
2022 represented an entirely new start for the team. Splitting from Aprilia and entering the season as an Independent team with Enea Bastianini and Fabio Di Giannantonio as riders.
Padovani made her intentions clear from the start: to continue her late husband’s dream and make Gresini Racing a winning team. She stated: “Psychologically, both me and the guys who work here were devastated. But I never thought of giving up, even in difficult times, because the urge to honour Fausto was always stronger than the urge to give up everything.”
And Gresini’s dreams came true quicker than anyone would’ve expected when Bastianini won the first-ever official race in Qatar, making Padovani the first female team manager to win in the premier class. An emotional moment for everyone involved, but especially for Padovani, who proved to herself that she made the right decision by taking on the team herself.
When asked about the most emotional moment for her in 2022, she explained: “The most significant moment of the past few years was definitely Enea Bastianini’s victory in the 2022 Qatar Grand Prix, an unforgettable day full of emotions. The most difficult, bravest decision I had to make was to stay in the MotoGP after my husband Fausto passed away.”
The win in Qatar wasn’t the only memorable moment for the team, as they enjoyed three more wins that season. Considering all the changes the team went through, these results were more than impressive and showed that Gresini Racing had the resources – and most importantly the necessary passion – to become worthy title contenders.
In 2023, Álex Márquez joined the team to replace Bastianini, proving to be the ideal fit for the team. Márquez’s energy aligned with Padovani's ambitions, and together with Di Giannantonio, they enjoyed four podiums and even another win in Qatar, coming from the Italian rider.
The Márquez brothers
Credit: Gresini Racing on “X”
Padovani made history once again in 2024, when she announced that Marc Márquez would replace Di Giannantonio, with the Márquez duo becoming the first brothers to race together in the premier class.
Signing an eight-time World Champion is every team principal's dream, and Padovani achieved this in just her third year leading a MotoGP team. Marc saw Gresini Racing as a place where he could have a fresh start, and it’s clear that the team also learned a lot by working with him.
The environment created inside the team also played a role in the champion’s decision to join Gresini Racing, with Padovani stating: “We’re a big family. We’re professional, but we also know how to have fun. Our team is primarily Italian and Spanish, which is a great combination. Our riders enjoy being part of this environment, and we’re seeing the results. Marc chose us last year not just because we’re capable of winning, but because he saw Álex returning from races with a big smile.”
Credit: Gresini Racing on “X”
And Marc really seemed to have his love for racing amplified alongside Gresini Racing, which was reflected in his results. With 16 podiums and four wins, the Spaniard claimed third place in the standings in what has proven to be a new beginning in his career.
Álex continued to improve as well, finishing eighth in the standings.
A dominant 2025
Despite letting go of Marc at the end of 2024, Gresini Racing continued with Álex and took on promising rookie Fermín Aldeguer, the team seemingly racing towards another impressive season.
Still, the season went much better than the team had ever expected.
Álex finally became a MotoGP race winner, holding off his brother to claim home glory at Jerez. He stood at the top of the podium two more times in 2025 and finished second in the standings.
Padovani has recognised Álex’s evolution in 2025, stating: “Álex has grown tremendously—and so have we, as a team. He’s learned so much, especially how to believe in himself. At the same time, having Marc around is a lot to take in. For years, people viewed Álex merely as ‘Marc’s brother,’ despite his own two world titles. Now, he’s showing he’s a champion in his own right. And with Marc out this year, Álex has stepped up as our lead rider.”
On the other side of the garage, Aldeguer adapted beautifully within the team and, with Padovani’s style of leading, became a part of the Gresini family. Aldeguer brought the team another Grand Prix win in 2025, becoming the second-youngest winner in MotoGP history.
He was named “Rookie of the Year” and fought alongside his teammate to bring home the “Best Independent Team” title.
Overall, 2025 might have been Gresini Racing’s best season since the team was founded and a great indicator for its future, proving once again that the team is here to fight for a leading position.
Racing forward
Padovani claimed the role of team leader unexpectedly and under bleak circumstances. The situation could’ve easily proven to be overwhelming, but she showed immense strength and transformed the team in just four years.
Her achievements are an inspiration for other women, in motorsport and beyond. Padovani is dedicated to proving that femininity can go along with racing and even represent an advantage in the paddock. Her way of leading is creating new race winners and bringing back legends of the sport.
With her, not only does Gresini’s legacy continue, but Padovani’s starts as well.
