- Di Giannantonio feels ready for the podium after winter testing
- Involved in the development of the Ducati GP26 from the very beginning for the first time
- The right combination of aero packages and chassis is set to make the difference
Ahead of the first race weekend of the 2026 MotoGP season in Buriram, Fabio Di Giannantonio strikes a notably combative tone. The 27-year-old Roman is part of the exclusive group of riders — alongside Marc Marquez, Francesco Bagnaia, and Fermin Aldeguer — who are directly contracted to Ducati Corse. The fact that he rides his Ducati GP26 within Valentino Rossi’s VR46 team does not change the reality that Di Giannantonio receives full factory support.
Winter Tests as a Confidence Boost
The five test days in Sepang and Buriram went promisingly for Di Giannantonio by his own assessment. In the combined results of the Buriram test, he finished only ninth, half a second off the fastest time — yet the outright position does not reflect the full scope of the work done, in his view. “Things went very well in Sepang, but I was still uncertain,” the Italian explained. While Sepang is a good test track, a single circuit alone had not given him the assurance that the overall package was right. He then found that confirmation in Thailand: “I have a lot of confidence.”
The Ducati Puzzle: Aerodynamics as the Key Factor
On the technical side, Di Giannantonio sees a crucial advantage in being fully involved in the bike’s development for the current season from the very start for the first time. He described the process as multi-layered: Ducati does not simply present a finished motorcycle. There are numerous ways to configure the machine, and his understanding of this has grown significantly.
He identified aerodynamics as the central area. The right fairing can make a huge difference but needs to match the overall package and the chassis data as well. It is entirely possible that a new aero component works very well with an existing or older chassis element. His team has now found exactly this overall picture.
Physical Preparation at a New Level
Beyond the technical side, Di Giannantonio also emphasized his improved physical condition. As a factory rider for Ducati Corse, he was able to prepare specifically and without restrictions over the winter for the first time. Last year, building muscle had not been possible for him. Now he has been able to train ideally and says he is in the best physical shape of his career.
Clear Statement Ahead of the Season Opener
All in all, the assessment from the rider with the number 49 is decidedly positive. They are absolutely ready and prepared for the long season, according to Di Giannantonio. When asked about his own expectations, he answered succinctly: “The podium — why not?”
Winter testing has shown that Ducati has transformed the dominant outlier Marc Marquez into a nearly equally fast quintet. Di Giannantonio is a firm part of this stronghold. Whether the leap to the podium actually materializes will become clear starting this weekend in Buriram.
Results MotoGP Test Buriram (Combined Lap Times)
| Pos. | Rider | Manufacturer | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Marco Bezzecchi (I) | Aprilia | 1:28.668 min |
| 2. | Ai Ogura (J) | Aprilia | +0.097 sec |
| 3. | Marc Marquez (E) | Ducati | +0.168 |
| 4. | Francesco Bagnaia (I) | Ducati | +0.215 |
| 5. | Alex Marquez (E) | Ducati | +0.293 |
| 6. | Pedro Acosta (E) | KTM | +0.353 |
| 7. | Franco Morbidelli (I) | Ducati | +0.403 |
| 8. | Jorge Martin (E) | Aprilia | +0.499 |
| 9. | Fabio Di Giannantonio (I) | Ducati | +0.505 |
| 10. | Joan Mir (E) | Honda | +0.628 |
| 11. | Raul Fernandez (E) | Aprilia | +0.634 |
| 12. | Brad Binder (ZA) | KTM | +0.724 |
| 13. | Luca Marini (I) | Honda | +0.783 |
| 14. | Johann Zarco (F) | Honda | +0.799 |
| 15. | Maverick Vinales (E) | KTM | +0.872 |
| 16. | Jack Miller (AUS) | Yamaha | +1.004 |
| 17. | Fabio Quartararo (F) | Yamaha | +1.033 |
| 18. | Enea Bastianini (I) | KTM | +1.060 |
| 19. | Diogo Moreira (BR) | Honda | +1.252 |
| 20. | Alex Rins (E) | Yamaha | +1.434 |
| 21. | Toprak Razgatlioglu (TR) | Yamaha | +2.104 |
| 22. | Michele Pirro (I) | Ducati | +3.109 |
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