In a dramatic turn of events at the Qatar MotoGP, Fabio Di Giannantonio, riding for VR46 Ducati, found himself without a point despite demonstrating a potentially podium-worthy pace. An unexpected incident with Alex Marquez forced him to the back of the pack early on, and later, he narrowly avoided a collision following Jorge Martin’s crash, which disrupted his race rhythm. These incidents, however, did not deter him from showcasing his skills as he pushed through the field, recording lap times comparable to race winner Marc Marquez in the crucial final stages.
Reflecting on the race, Di Giannantonio remarked, “I think at the end of the race, if you see the lap times, our pace was a podium pace. So that was the goal. Then a few events destroyed our plans.” Despite his efforts, he finished the race in 16th place, missing out on scoring any points. The Italian rider, who prepared meticulously with his team, aimed to battle with Marc Marquez, acknowledging, “With ifs and buts, we don’t go anywhere, but it’s true our pace was really strong.”
Although disappointed with the outcome, Di Giannantonio remains optimistic, holding his position as fifth in the world championship after securing a podium finish at COTA. However, his setback in Qatar resulted in a 30-point gap from his VR46 teammate Franco Morbidelli, who managed a double podium in Lusail. Despite this, Di Giannantonio finds motivation in the internal team competition, stating, “It helps a lot to have a strong teammate. You can study a lot from the other side of the garage… you can learn some secrets. And for sure he can do the same from me, when I go a little faster.”
As both VR46 riders prepare for the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez, where the team previously achieved a podium with Marco Bezzecchi, Di Giannantonio is hopeful for a strong performance. Having previously won in Moto2 at the Andalusian circuit, he looks to leverage his experience and past success. “Jerez is a very tiny track compared to the four previous ones. It’s very technical, and we’ll be able to understand if the setup we tried in the last races can be positive,” he explained. With European fans bringing their energy to the circuit, Di Giannantonio anticipates another opportunity to vie for top positions.
After the race weekend, Di Giannantonio, along with GP25 riders Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia, is slated to evaluate new development parts during the Monday test. As Di Giannantonio continues to demonstrate determination and adaptability, his experiences at the Qatar MotoGP serve as a learning curve, reinforcing his resolve to compete fiercely at future events and maintain his momentum in the championship.
