Di Giannantonio targets Misano fix for recent MotoGP slump
VR46 rider Fabio di Giannantonio says his team has identified the cause of his recent performance issues and believes there are 'major chances' of solving
Fabio di Giannantonio believes he and the VR46 Racing Team are close to solving their recent MotoGP problems. The Italian rider is targeting a turnaround at his home race, the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano on September 13.
After a strong start to the season as Ducati's most consistent performer, di Giannantonio's form has dipped. His points average has fallen significantly over the last seven race weekends compared to the opening six rounds.
| Period | Rounds | Average Points Per Round |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Six Rounds | 1-6 | 19.3 |
| Last Seven Rounds | 7-13 | 13.1 |
The recent Aragon Grand Prix was particularly difficult, described by the rider as his worst of the season. He lost time on Friday with a lack of feeling on the bike, struggled with rear-end issues on Saturday, and crashed out of the sprint race. Despite changes from VR46 on Sunday, he could only manage a seventh-place finish, behind Gresini Ducati's Fermin Aldeguer.
Identifying the Problem
While not revealing specific details, di Giannantonio told Motorsport.com that the team now understands the root cause of his recent lack of speed. He expressed confidence that a solution can be found in time for Misano. "There were a few things that put us in a position where I crashed," he said, referring to the Aragon sprint. "But the good thing is that we know exactly what's happening."
He hopes for a return to consistency at the Italian circuit. "I really hope that we can have a consistent and normal weekend from Misano as we can have another chance to show our speed that we have not been showing since the last two weekends," di Giannantonio stated.
Championship Standings Pressure
With nine rounds remaining, di Giannantonio holds fourth place in the riders' championship, 48 points behind leader Jorge Martin. His position has come under recent pressure from factory Ducati rider Marc Marquez. After the Dutch GP, di Giannantonio led Marquez by 24 points, but the reigning champion has since overturned that deficit and now leads by 29 points-a swing of 54 points in just three race meetings.
Despite this, the VR46 rider remains focused on salvaging his season. "We salvaged what we could. The only positive thing today is that we're fourth in the championship," he said after Aragon, noting he had taken points from Ai Ogura, who was absent from the race.
Looking Ahead
Di Giannantonio is now concentrating fully on the Misano event. "Now we're focusing on Misano, where I'm sure we can turn things around," he said. He acknowledged the importance of understanding the issues, adding, "knowing what went wrong helps you a lot in working on it."
Looking further ahead in the calendar, he identified the Red Bull Ring in Austria as a historically tough track for him. He hopes to improve there but expects to struggle. However, he draws confidence from overcoming difficulties at other circuits this season. "Aragon in particular was the only track in the championship where we weren't able to make that breakthrough," he noted.
His optimism is rooted in the bike's performance when things run smoothly. "In the end, when the weekend is smooth, the bike works very well." di Giannantonio concluded. "We have to be positive for Misano."
