The double 125cc world champion and experienced MotoGP team boss fell ill with COVID-19 just before Christmas and was hospitalized in Imola.
As his condition worsened, he was taken to a specialized COVID care ward in Bologna just before the New Year, where he was placed in a medically induced coma and placed on a ventilator to assist breathing.
In early January, doctors slowly brought him out of his coma, although he was kept under sedation and on a ventilator.
After showing slight signs of improvement in the coming days, Gresini was sedated again last week as the virus continued to seriously affect his lungs.
On Monday, the Gresini team released a quick update stating that the Italian still has a ventilator but his blood oxygen levels are steadily increasing but will still need treatment for some time.
“Minor but comforting news about the health of Fausto Gresini, who has been hospitalized in the Maggiore Carlo Alberto Pizzardi Hospital in Bologna for over three weeks,” the statement began.
“Doctor Nicola Cilloni [said]: “Fausto Gresini’s general clinical conditions are fragile but are slowly and gradually improving.
“He’s conscious and combative. Radiological and laboratory tests are also going in the same direction.
“He still needs to be assisted by the mechanical ventilator, but the oxygen supply to the blood continues to improve.
“He started physiotherapy to rehabilitate both breathing and muscles.
“He remains in a critical and fragile state with a long treatment path, but the direction that has been taken in recent days makes the prognosis, which is still cautious, more optimistic.”
Much of the world is currently being hit by a second wave of the virus, with new, more infectious variants leading to an increase in cases worldwide and requiring stricter control measures.
This has already had an impact on MotoGP. The Sepang test in Malaysia, due to take place next month, has been canceled as a state of emergency has been declared in the country.
MotoGP released a revised calendar last week. Two races are to take place in Qatar, followed by the third round in Portugal and the postponement of the American and Argentine Grand Prix.