Marco Bezzecchi
Fabio di Giannantonio may have secured his first Sprint podium of the season but he lost out to Marc Marquez in Brazil.
After securing pole position on Saturday at the Brazilian Grand Prix, Fabio di Giannantonio was the favourite for the MotoGP Sprint race.
There were lengthy delays at the Autódromo Internacional Ayrton Senna (Goiânia) due to a sinkhole on the start finish straight.
Despite holding onto the lead for the majority of the Sprint, Marc Marquez attacked di Giannantonio with three laps to go, and the Italian was not able to respond as Marquez secured his first Sprint win of the season.
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Fabio di Giannantonio was too ‘cautious’ against Marc Marquez
After the Sprint race finished on Saturday afternoon, TNT Sports pundit Michael Laverty discussed di Giannantonio’s fight with Marquez.
The former MotoGP rider believes that di Giannantonio held back too much on the last lap and was too ‘cautious’ in his fight against Marquez, whereas Marquez would not have been if the roles were reversed.
Laverty said, “Where Digi was a little cautious on the last lap, and did not send it, Marc probably would have done. It was a shame for Digi he was so polished all the way to that little mistake he made, which gave that opportunity to Marc.
“I could not see any easy way through for Digi here on the last lap. Possibly roll it around the outside at Turn Four was one opportunity. He tried to set it up and get the run down towards the final corner, but Marc was good on the final lap.
“I think his best opportunity was to let off the brakes and send it up the inside [at the final corner], it would have likely have taken both riders off the track, like we saw in Buriram.”
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Fabio di Giannantonio is fighting for his future at VR46
Ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix, it had been reported that the VR46 Racing Team may have made their first signing for the 2027 season.
It had been suggested that Fermin Aldeguer will leave Gresini after two years with the Italian team, and will become the latest rider to race for Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP team.
This will mean that either di Giannantonio or Franco Morbidelli will lose their seat with VR46 come the end of the 2026 season.
The Italian riders will now be going head-to-head to try and remain in the team and on a Ducati for the 2027 season. After a podium in the Brazilian Grand Prix Sprint race, di Giannantonio will now be the favourite to partner Aldeguer at VR46.
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