Fabio Di Giannantonio explained why he felt he “threw away” his chances of securing a podium finish at the Argentina MotoGP Grand Prix.

The Roman rider finished both the Sprint and Sunday race in fifth place, accumulating 16 points to his championship tally.

The VR46 Ducati opted for the same strategy as his teammate Franco Morbidelli, starting the 25-lapper with the soft rear tyre compound.

The start of his race saw Morbidelli squeeze through on Lap 1 which placed him behind KTMs Brad Binder as a result.

Di Giannantonio later found the right opportunity to pass Binder on Lap 15, then completed an ambitious last-lap move on LCR Honda’s Johann Zarco.

“Without [Franco] Morbidelli’s overtake, I think I would’ve finished the race differently. The start was good, and the plan was to reach a fourth, fifth position right away and then start the chase,” Di Giannantonio explained to GPOne.

“However, Franco did well and ruined my GP. I was behind Binder for three-quarters of the race and lost a lot of time, also because Brad [Binder] is very difficult to overtake.

“I had a great pace, to the extent that, after twenty laps, I was still doing 1.38.3s. But, by then, it was too late.

“I’m a bit angry because I feel I threw away a podium. With the current regulations, if you’re behind someone who’s breaking away, you can only save yourself if he makes a mistake.”

He continued: “In my case, the KTM rider made a small mistake, and I managed to squeeze in. Otherwise, I would’ve definitely been stuck.

“This is also why qualifying and the first few laps are crucial. In those stages, you have to take risks.”

Di Giannantonio admitted he ‘lost concentration’ in last laps

Di Giannantonio admitted post-race that he “lost concentration” in the last laps of the race due to exhaustion.

He is still nursing an injury after breaking his collarbone during the pre-season test in Sepang, which played a part in the closing stages of the Argentina race.

Although he wasn’t satisfied with not reaching his target, he was happy with the progression made since the season opener.

“Looking at the two top five, it was a really good weekend. In terms of speed and consistency, I really progressed from Thailand,” he reflected.

“I’m really happy and proud because we did a great job. Obviously, I can’t be 100% satisfied because I wanted to finish in the top three.

“It was hard, but not like last weekend [Thailand] where, in the last laps, I was exhausted.

“Here, in the closing laps, I lost concentration and even forgot to deactivate the holeshot twice. So I faced Turn 6 like on a chopper.

“I kept thinking about how to recuperate energy on the straight. In the next few days, I’ll try to train and prepare myself as the best as I can for Austin.

“I hope not, but I’m afraid it will be. Like I said, in the next few days, instead of resting, I’ll spend time recuperating muscle in my upper body.”

READ MORE – Franco Morbidelli ends four-year MotoGP podium drought in Argentina amid self-doubt battles

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The VR46 Racing Team unveiled its livery for the 2025 MotoGP season at the Nusa Indah Theater in Jakarta, Indonesia on Saturday.

Valentino Rossi’s team heads into its fourth season in the sport since its entry back in 2022 with Ducati as its satellite team.

Racing under the name Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team for sponsorship reasons, the Tavullia-based outfit becomes Ducati’s official satellite team this year – taking over from Pramac.

As VR46 and title sponsor Pertamina head into the second year of its partnership, the live event took place in Indonesia – the headquarters of the oil company.

The fluorescent yellow famously associated with Rossi remained on the 2025 challenger alongside the white colour brought in from last season.

Very similar to last season’s livery, the Pertamina Enduro brand is once again showcased with a red background alongside the side of the bike.

Fabio Di Giannantonio, who finished 10th in the MotoGP standings last season, will be promoted to factory-spec GP25s after Marco Bezzecchi’s departure.

The 26-year-old ended his long-standing affiliation with the team to partner with the reigning champion Jorge Martin at Aprilia Racing.

Bezzecchi was a part of the team’s best season to date when it entered the sport three years ago – taking three wins on his way to finishing third in the championship.

However, Di Giannantonio and Bezzecchi struggled on the less competitive GP23 last season with the Rimini-born rider taking the team’s only podium finish of the 2024 campaign.

His replacement, Franco Morbidelli, joins after finishing ninth for Prima Pramac Racing and he is a long-standing member of the VR46 Riders Academy.

Morbidelli became the first World Champion among Rossi’s mentees when he won the Moto2 title in 2017 with MarcVDS Racing.

The Italian takes over from Bezzecchi on the GP24s for the 2025 season.

READ MORE: Ducati reveals Marc Marquez’s 2025 MotoGP bike

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Fabio Di Giannantonio expressed his admiration for Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP satellite team after finishing his first year with the team.

The Italian was presented with a career lifeline after losing his seat at Gresini Racing to Marc Marquez.

The VR46 satellite team opted to sign Di Giannantonio despite having no previous affiliation with Rossi through his junior teams or academy.

After Pramac switched to Yamaha on a multi-year agreement for 2025, Ducati awarded VR46 Ducati with factory status, and the team gave Di Giannantonio the third and final factory spec bike for the new season.

“It has been my best season of my career,” Di Giannantonio told BikeSport News after the 2024 season.

“I have never been so consistent and so in a high level, because in MotoGP I never had this level all year long.”

“Also this year has been tough for many reasons, also apart from the injury the bike was not that easy. But we were there and always fighting. And before my injury, I just finished Silverstone just behind Pecco [Bagnaia] and [Marc] Marquez.

“So, could have been a really great year for us. But we have to take out the positives. I grew a lot as a rider and also as a person.

“This is thanks also to the team because the team is amazing. Believe me, this team is in another league. This team is fantastic. It’s a factory team.”

Fabio Di Giannantonio “looking forward” to testing GP25

Di Giannantonio had the best season of his career as he broke into the top ten in the MotoGP championship for the first time.

Despite recording no podiums in either Sprint or Sunday races, the Italian beat his team-mate Marco Bezzecchi.

The 26-year-old had to end his 2024 season early after suffering from a broken collarbone in Austria, meaning he missed the final two races to try and come back fully fit for the first 2025 season test.

His results rewarded him with a GP25 ride for 2025, stating that he is “looking forward” to testing it in the new year.

“I miss the bike like hell. I would like to get on the track tomorrow,” he admitted to gpone.

“I’m looking forward to trying it out to see for myself what kind of feeling it will give me.

“From the astonished comments of those who tried the GP23 again, and then got on the GP25, I was surprised. Even [Michele Pirro] didn’t expect to struggle so much on that bike, so going up on the GP25 the difference is noticeable would already be a major step forward.

“It would allow me to optimise my riding style by not having to focus on optimising the package, and that already starts well.

“Of course, I don’t take it for granted at all, it’s still a new bike, and there will be an adjustment period.

“So there will be a lot of work to do. Nothing is taken for granted, but I certainly expect to start from a very good base.”

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Fabio Di Giannantonio has provided a health update after his shoulder surgery which caused him to miss the final two races of the MotoGP season.

The Italian ended his 2024 season after the Thai Grand Prix in October after he dislocated his shoulder earlier in the year at the Austrian Grand Prix in August.

Despite not riding, the Italian was present at the end-of-season Barcelona test to provide an update on his situation heading into the 2025 season.

Di Giannantonio underwent a successful operation on the 2nd of November but confirmed he will not be at full fitness by the time the February Sepang test comes around.

“I’m good. These days I’m much, much better compared to last week,” he said to the media.

“I made the surgery on the Saturday of Malaysia. So, the first few days were tough, it was impossible to sleep and the pain was [a lot].

“But now I’m really good. Also, the medical staff are impressed with all the improvements I’m making day by day.

“So, that’s really good. After next week I will start to work also a little bit in the pool.

“In two weeks I will remove this [sling], so I can start to make the rehabilitation in an active way, moving the shoulder by myself.

“So, I’m completing the process. It’s a long process, a long winter, but I’m good at the moment.

“I think we’ve done it in the right timing, because even if I’m recovering a bit faster I will have the right time to train and be ready for next season, because the plan at the moment is for sure to make the first official test in Sepang.

“But I will not be 100% physically, because if you see me naked at the moment, for sure it will not be a big show – you will see I’ve lost a lot of muscles.

“So, to rebuild those muscles, to rebuild that energy, that stamina will take a long time. So, I think we’ve done everything in the right time.”

Fabio Di Giannantonio has a lot to look forward to in 2025

The VR46 Ducati rider was presented with a lifeline after losing his seat at Gresini at the end of the 2023 season.

Di Giannantonio impressed throughout the season, and as his team-mate Marco Bezzecchi signed for Aprilia, he was awarded a fresh two-year contract extension and a factory spec bike for 2025.

After he shared with the media his health update, he said he was observing testing with a focus on Ducati’s test rider Michele Pirro.

The Italian replaced Di Giannantonio in his absence and tried to accumulate as much data as possible on the GP25 and its characteristics.

The Roma-born rider indicated he didn’t want to know Pirro’s “feelings” on the bike but was informed of the specific parts implemented.

“Let’s say that with Michele we didn’t speak that much at this moment of the day, because he’s working,” he added.

“Also, the team and Ducati don’t want me to know too much the feelings from the new bike to not have [expectations] when I’m back on the bike, so to have a clear head when I try the bike.

“But also for sure I know what they are trying, where they are working and where the new bike will be. But I don’t want to know the feelings. So, we are speaking but in a distant way.” 

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Fabio Di Giannantonio has revealed he will undergo surgery on his left shoulder after the Thai MotoGP Grand Prix race weekend.

The VR46 Ducati rider will consequently miss the rest of the 2024 MotoGP season to be ready to test his GP25 spec Ducati at the end-of-season test.

After the last round at Motegi, the Italian went back to Europe for an “important appointment” to discuss with medical experts about the severity of his injuries.

Di Giannantonio dislocated his shoulder in Austria around the Red Bull Ring in August, which has led to him playing catch-up in the rounds since then.

On Thursday, ahead of the Australian race weekend at Phillip Island, the Roman revealed his next steps in the recovery process.

“On the one hand, as a team, I am really sorry to have to give this news, because I know how much effort Fabio has put in these last months after the crash,” said VR46 team director Alessio Salucci. “It wasn’t easy, but he always gave his best.

“This decision doesn’t come by chance, he could have continued to race until Valencia, but this would have meant postponing the surgery until the end of November.

“There wouldn’t have been enough time to optimise the recovery and rehabilitation and this would have certainly affected his physical condition in view of the start of the next season.

“It’s a decision totally shared with Fabio, all the medical staff, Professor Castagna and also our partners who support us in this project.”

Fabio Di Giannanatonio wants to be 100% heading in the 2025 season

The 26-year-old opted for surgery to ensure he would regain full fitness going into the 2025 season.

The Italian will be the sole satellite rider on a GP25 Ducati factory-spec bike, and the Italian believes that the best course of action is to return to fully fit.

Diggia’s surgery will occur after Thailand; therefore, he will participate in two more races before using the long winter period to regain full fitness.

He will be back for the first test of the 2025 season at Sepang in Mayalysia from February 5th-7th.

“I would have liked to race until Valencia, close the season in the best possible way with the Team and then take all the time necessary to deal with the surgery, recovery and rehabilitation,” di Giannantonio said.

“Unfortunately, however, the calendar is really demanding, the winter break is so short and we cannot risk not arriving at the peak of physical condition at the start of the 2025.

“Together with the Team, the medical staff and Professor Castagna, we evaluated in the week after the Thai GP the maximum limit to be able to proceed with the shoulder surgery.

“I thought about it for a long time, because it was important for me to give my all until the last race to repay everyone for the great trust they gave me in this 2024, but I am sure that this decision will be really important for my future.”

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