Fabio Di Giannantonio MotoGP Assen campaign approaches with strong momentum following his best start in MotoGP history, bolstered by a podium finish last weekend at Mugello. The VR46 Ducati rider, fifth in the world championship after nine rounds, aims to extend his recent progress at the Dutch TT after overcoming challenges faced earlier at Aragon.
Progress and Challenges Encountered in the Early Season
Di Giannantonio currently holds two grand prix podium finishes, placing him behind prominent riders including Marc Marquez, Francesco Bagnaia, Alex Marquez, and teammate Franco Morbidelli. A shared difficulty among GP25 riders, including Bagnaia and Di Giannantonio, has been managing front-end feedback, described by Di Giannantonio as a kind of “filter” affecting riding confidence.
At Aragon, while Bagnaia benefited from larger 355mm front brake discs, these did not suit Di Giannantonio’s style. The VR46 team responded with alternative technical adjustments during the post-race test, seeking improvements adaptable to diverse circuits.
Technical Developments Confirmed at Mugello
Di Giannantonio reflected on the period following the Aragon test:
“The big question mark was after the Aragon Test, if all the things that we tried would also work at another racetrack, which was Mugello,”
he shared at Assen on Thursday.
The positive results at Mugello validated the team‘s efforts. Di Giannantonio expressed confidence heading into Assen, saying,
“So, I’m pretty confident that also here we can do a good job. We can keep working in the same way as the last two weeks more or less, and continue to have this kind of performance.”
His focus remains on enjoyment and connection with the bike’s handling, as he explained:
“The goal is to keep having fun on the bike, finally, retake the positive feelings with the front of the bike and push like we did in the last race in Mugello.”
Strong Performance at Mugello and New Equipment Debut
During the Mugello weekend, Di Giannantonio improved from seventh on the grid to fifth in the Sprint race, then secured third place in the main Grand Prix. His late overtaking of factory Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia secured his first podium of the season. Notably, Di Giannantonio was also the exclusive GP25 rider to race with Ducati’s newest fairing design at Mugello.
Anticipation and Reverence for the Dutch TT at Assen
As the Dutch TT marks its 100th anniversary, Di Giannantonio arrives with heightened enthusiasm and respect for the historic circuit. He described Assen as “the ‘Cathedral of Speed’,” highlighting its reputation for fast, thrilling racing across multiple categories, including 125cc, 250cc, Moto3, Moto2, MotoGP, and 500cc.
Recalling legendary World Superbike battles featuring riders such as Chili, Fogarty, and Bayliss, he said,
“I also remember many great battles in World Superbike between Chili, Fogarty, Bayliss, because I was cheering a lot for Ducati and Troy.”
He views this milestone race at Assen as particularly special:
“So being here now, racing the 100th TT, feels so special. We just miss an historical livery to celebrate!”
Describing the atmosphere, Di Giannantonio added,
“You can feel the passion and the racing spirit here. It’s always good to race here again.”
Looking Ahead to the Weekend’s Conditions and Competitive Outlook
Following rain on Thursday, dry and mild weather is forecast for the remainder of the Dutch MotoGP weekend. Di Giannantonio begins the event positioned just eight points behind teammate Franco Morbidelli, who is fourth in the championship, underscoring his readiness to continue challenging the season’s frontrunners.
