Fabio Di Giannantonio, a MotoGP rider, is facing a challenging situation regarding his future in the sport. His prospects have become increasingly uncertain since Luca Marini showed interest in a Honda Repsol ride, which Di Giannantonio had hoped would be his lifeline. This situation has left him in a precarious position, as he finds himself potentially without a seat for the upcoming season.
Di Giannantonio expressed his feelings of frustration and disappointment at the Qatar Grand Prix, where he was awaiting confirmation of his future. He mentioned that two MotoGP seats were still unconfirmed, but he believed they were likely already taken. He requested to be left alone until the end of the weekend, as the ongoing uncertainty and constant surprises were causing him significant stress.
The series of events that led to his current predicament began with Marc Marquez’s departure from Honda, a move that Di Giannantonio described as the first in a domino effect. Following this, his own team, Gresini Ducati, was involved in the second domino, and then the Honda ride he was offered seemed to slip away, with another rider being preferred. This sequence of events, which Di Giannantonio likened to an avalanche started by Marquez, has left him feeling buried and without a place in MotoGP.
“ it was like a domino effect. Marc Marquez left Honda first, which was the first big surprise as it was the most successful duo in the MotoGP era for eleven years. The second domino fell when it came to my team. Then I was offered the Honda handlebars. But now it looks like another driver will get it. We were close, but then they wanted someone else. It was the third domino .”
Despite the setbacks, Di Giannantonio believes he deserves to remain a regular rider in MotoGP. He feels that his performance in his second year in the premier class justifies his position, and he views a move back to Moto2 or to the World Superbike Championship as a step backward. At 25 years old, he believes he is at the prime age for a racing driver and can continue to improve in MotoGP.
Fabio Di Giannantonio: “ I don’t deserve this, so I’m upset ”
“ Subsequently, another opportunity presented itself for me because I have a lot of respect for the VR46 team. But here too, another driver is apparently preferred. This would be the fourth domino. This means that all the places would be occupied . Marc started the story, the snowball then became bigger and bigger, an avalanche which buried my place in MotoGP ”
Di Giannantonio also considered the possibility of becoming a test rider, which could offer a pathway back into MotoGP, especially if he could replace injured riders and achieve good results. However, he did not specify any particular manufacturer regarding this potential role.
“ I really deserve to remain a regular rider in MotoGP . The situation is strange. Because so much has happened, I don’t deserve this, so I’m upset. This is my second year in MotoGP and I have achieved all the results that could be expected of me . A Moto2 would be a step backwards for me. The World Superbike Championship is also not an option at the moment. I’m 25 years old, I’m in my prime as a racing driver, I can continue to improve in MotoGP .”
And as a test pilot? “ At the moment it is not a concrete possibility, but I have to build a path that can lead me to return to MotoGP and therefore I am thinking about it because there would be the possibility of replacing riders due to injuries and then to achieve good results. So I’m thinking about it .”
In summary, Fabio Di Giannantonio is in a difficult position as he navigates the uncertainties of his MotoGP career. His situation highlights the competitive and often unpredictable nature of the sport, where even talented riders can find themselves struggling to secure their place.