Italian MotoGP rider Fabio Di Giannantonio expressed his frustration after finishing sixth in the recent Assen Grand Prix, narrowly missing a top 5 result. Representing the Ducati VR46 Racing team, Di Giannantonio was confident in the capability of his Desmosedici bike but lamented the small margin that kept him off the leaderboard’s upper tier.
He explained,
The start was good, but I felt like I was on ice with the rear since the warm-up, so in the early laps, I was struggling for grip coming out of corners. I was losing a lot in Sector 3, in turns 10, 11, and 12, where I usually excel. By mid-race, I realized I could exploit the bike best at 45 to 50 degrees of lean angle, so I started braking very gently in a straight line and much harder when leaning over, opening the throttle mid-corner. The potential was there, but I ended up having to defend instead of attacking. It was a strange feeling that I don’t usually experience. In these moments, you have to analyze. Now, we forget about it and look ahead.
—Fabio Di Giannantonio, MotoGP rider
Battles on Track Hinder Progress; Focus Shifts to Sachsenring
Di Giannantonio recounted his on-track battles, particularly highlighting the challenge of overtaking Franco Morbidelli. He noted the time lost during these contests reduced his chance of securing fifth place.
Morbidelli is always tough to pass. I was faster, he was defending, and we touched. It’s a shame we lost time because that battle, as well as the one with Vinales, slowed us down. Otherwise, the fifth place was achievable. However, dwelling on ‘what ifs’ doesn’t get you far. It really bothers me.
Despite these difficulties, the Italian rider remains upbeat as he looks ahead to the German GP.
Discussing the upcoming race at Sachsenring, he expressed enthusiasm for the track’s characteristics that suit his riding style, saying,
The Sachsenring is a track I like because it has many left turns, which are my favorites, and you also need to manage the tires well, another strength of mine. My electronics are ecstatic because they perform very well there. In general, we are in a good moment, we are fast, and I’m having fun on the bike. After a below-par race, I can’t wait to get back on track.
Firm Commitment to Ducati VR46 and Response to Acosta Transfer Rumors
Amid swirling rumors about a potential transfer involving Pedro Acosta, Di Giannantonio made his allegiance to the Ducati VR46 team unequivocal. Addressing speculation about joining forces with Acosta, he stated,
I am with Ducati and my superb team, and I am happy, so I don’t care what Pedro does. I feel sorry for his team because it’s not nice to talk so much about another brand. I don’t know what the atmosphere is like in his garage. Perhaps he should focus on his own, as there are many KTM riders performing well.
His remarks reinforced his loyalty to Ducati VR46 while dismissing distractions related to his rumored future teammate.
Fabio Di Giannantonio’s clear stance amid transfer talk and his reflections on a frustrating yet valuable experience at Assen underscore his determination to continue progressing within the MotoGP field. As the season advances toward the Sachsenring race in Germany, his focus remains sharply on extracting the best from his Ducati VR46 machine and converting potential into results.
