Gresini awakens from induced coma as condition improves slightly

FAUSTO Grisini looks to improving slightly, as he is slowly awakened from the induced coma he was put into before over the Christmas period. Grisini gave a positive COVID result before Christmas, before being transferred to a specialist hospital on Boxing day.

Now though, the Italian website Motociclismo.it is reporting that Grisini is improving, albeit slightly, with doctors bringing the two-time 125cc GP champion out of the induced coma that could have saved his life.

The fact that Grisini was protected in this manner by doctors means the situation must have been extremely severe for the 59-year-old. The induced coma is only used if a patient needs intubation – a type of breathing tube that runs down the trachea and into the lungs. This is only done is the patient is suffering from respiratory failure and enables the doctors to still provide the vital organs with the oxygen needed to survive.

A statement from the Italian’s team can be seen below:

“The conditions of Fausto Gresini - who was transported to the Carlo Alberto Pizzardi hospital in Bologna on December 30th - are slightly improving.

“After his arrival at the hospital (Intensive Care Department of Prof. Cilloni) with very low blood oxygen saturation levels, the Gresini Racing Team Principal was induced into a pharmacological coma and received an endotracheal intubation to help organs oxygenation.

“During the last few hours, in light of stable and improving general conditions, the doctors decided to begin a slow awakening process to allow independent lung ventilation.

“Further updates will follow.”

Fausto Grisini is a mainstay of the MotoGP paddock, having raced in the 80s and 90s, then took on the role of team owner in the squad wearing his name. His team has taken titles in Moto2 and Moto3, and thanks to the MotoGP and MotoE squads, they are the only team to compete in every modern-day top-flight motorcycle GP class.