Marc Marquez once left MotoGP rider ‘stranded’ by taking his seat after he’d bought a house

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Marc Marquez decided in 2023 that he wanted to leave Honda, the team where he’d won six world championships. He reached an agreement with the Japanese manufacturer to terminate his contract.

With Francesco Bagnaia sealing back-to-back championships, it was clear that Ducati was the place to be. There was no immediate route to the factory team, so Marquez joined his brother Alex at satellite team Gresini instead.

Nadia Padovani was ‘scared’ to sign Marquez given the pressure that would follow, but she couldn’t turn down the opportunity. This meant letting Fabio di Giannantonio go.

Gresini had given Di Giannantonio his debut in 2022, but his performances weren’t especially eye-catching. His MotoGP career was at risk after just two seasons in the sport.

Fabio di Giannantonio explains how losing Gresini seat to Marc Marquez inspired him

MOW have spoken to Diego Tavano, Di Giannantonio’s manager, and learned that Gresini’s decision left the Italian ‘stranded’. He’d signed the deed for an expensive property before finding out that Marquez was replacing him.

He’d ignored advice to make a more affordable purchase and knew he desperately needed to deliver at the end of 2023 to stay in the sport and avoid difficulties. Fortunately, Di Giannantonio notched his first premier-class podium at Phillip Island and followed that up with a maiden victory in Qatar.

This run of form earned him a spot at Valentino Rossi’s VR46 team, where he now rides a factory-spec Ducati – the same bike as Marquez. He hasn’t added to his Lusail win, but has scored two more podiums this year.

“I’m really stubborn, and I try to turn this stubbornness into something positive, in the sense that if I set my mind to something, I really overcome everything and everyone to get there,” the rider told MOW. “And I’ve discovered that it’s kind of my key to getting what I want.

“Life puts us in situations where, well, it’s not easy to believe in yourself. But in my life, in my experiences, I’ve always tried to bet on myself, to set myself an extra challenge, to find a different way to succeed.

“That time I was in limbo, I could have bought a house, in fact, I should have. And even Diego told me to be careful, maybe get a smaller one before knowing what my future would hold.

“But there was this house that I particularly liked, which is the one I bought… honestly, at the time, I didn’t know how to pay for it. So I told myself I’ll buy it, then somehow I’ll manage. I can’t say that’s what made me win, but maybe it helped.”

Could Marc Marquez and Fabio di Giannantonio be teammates at Ducati in 2027?

‘Diggia’ enters the summer break fifth in the championship with 142 points, three ahead of his teammate Franco Morbidelli. Luigi Dall’Igna and co. seem to be impressed with his performances.

Indeed, reports suggest Ducati are talking to Di Giannantonio about a 2027 seat. This comes with Bagnaia failing to meet expectations (though he is still 71 points ahead of the VR46 pair).

At the same time, Di Giannantonio’s seat could be under threat from Pedro Acosta. Rossi has shown an interest in the KTM sensation, whose deal expires at the end of 2026.

Thus, depending on how the next 18 months pan out, Di Giannantonio could end up partnering Marquez in a full-circle moment, or once again fighting for his future.