Marco Bezzecchi
Fabio Di Giannantonio is having a tough season on the factory Desmosedici in 2025. VR46 owner Valentino Rossi gives him the perfect guidance on the grid.
The Italian was afforded the third up-to-date Ducati bike this season alongside Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia. But Di Giannantonio has struggled to get to grips with the machine, as the GP25 proves to be a backward step from the GP24.
The 26-year-old has suffered with inconsistency this season as he sits seventh in the standings with two podiums. Diggia is behind his VR46 teammate Franco Morbidelli by one point, who is riding last year’s Desmosedici.
But recent races have seen some improvements from Di Giannantonio, as he enjoys a streak of three consecutive Sprint podiums. The latest came at the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano, the home of VR46 team boss Rossi.
Fabio Di Giannantonio must improve his positioning on his bike after Valentino Rossi’s private feedback
Rossi watched from the sidelines as his VR46 riders made it to Q2 and finished in the top five. Di Giannantonio finished third in the Sprint in a great fight back from P7, with Morbidelli outqualifying him in fourth.
The 26-year-old narrowly scraped into Q2 in 10th on Friday while his teammate was up in third. In a behind-the-scenes video from VR46’s official YouTube channel, Rossi pointed out that Diggia’s position on the bike needed to improve to match the frontrunners.
“Now I tell you about the session and then about the time attack. First of all, according to how you stay on the bike, it seems to me that on the rear, we are more placed than the others,” said Rossi.
“And about how you stay on the bike… You stay a little more behind than the three of four strongest. I understand that it’s not easy, but from the outside, our bike seems more placed on the rear, but because he stays behind.
“It’s very placed on the brake at turn four when you enter like this. There, the others are always: ‘Tic, tic, tic’. And when they enter, the bikes does a thing like they are further.
“But you arrive well placed on the rear, this is not bad for me. But when you enter, you are more placed. During that moment, you stay a little behind with the upper part of the body. You should stay a little further.”
Di Giannantonio says Rossi can see his problems within ‘two minutes’, something that no VR46 engineer can manage. He has the perfect person to learn from in MotoGP, and his latest advice must be taken on board.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Fabio Di Giannantonio from net worth to AS Roma
Fabio Di Giannantonio will keep factory Ducati machinery in 2026 – but he must improve
It has been confirmed that Ducati will have four factory-spec bikes on the grid in 2026, with Di Giannantonio and VR46 keeping their machine. Alex Marquez will ride the GP26 next season alongside the Italian, Marquez and Bagnaia.
Rossi would have brought a second factory bike for Pedro Acosta if he signed him from KTM, but he was unable to break his contract after holding talks. The seven-time champion did not see the value of a second GP26 due to the costs.
Diggia can take confidence from the fact that he will keep his factory bike in 2026, but his 2025 campaign shows that he must make improvements. His P5 at Misano was his first top-five finish since Mugello.
Ducati have ‘been seen’ speaking to Di Giannantonio over a potential move in 2027, with the current contract cycle ending next season. He has been given another opportunity to prove himself on factory machinery in 2026; he must make the most of it.
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