Di Giannantonio targets strong Misano farewell for VR46

Fabio di Giannantonio is set for his final home MotoGP with the VR46 team this weekend at Misano. The Italian rider will join the factory KTM team in 2027 after three seasons with the squad based in nearby Tavullia.

Di Giannantonio's departure follows a tenure highlighted by a victory at the Catalunya Grand Prix earlier this season. A strong result at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, located just 13 kilometers from the VR46 headquarters, would serve as a fitting send-off. It could also help stop a recent decline in his championship position.

Championship Standings Slide

The rider has lost ground to championship leader Jorge Martin over the last four events. He has not stood on a Sunday podium since his Barcelona win. This has left him fourth in the world championship standings, 48 points behind the top spot. Reigning champion Marc Marquez has now emerged as Ducati's primary title contender.

Despite the gap, nine rounds remain in the season. A total of 333 points are still available across di Giannantonio's remaining races with the VR46 team before his switch.

Home Race Motivation

"We're really fired up for Misano!" di Giannantonio told Crash.net. "It's our home race, and we have to push as hard as possible." He emphasized the unique boost of racing in front of a home crowd, with family and friends in attendance. The team arrives with positive data from a strong performance at the circuit last year, which should aid their setup. Feedback from the recent Aragon weekend, though challenging, may also prove useful.

Di Giannantonio finished third in last year's Misano Sprint race. He then took fifth place in the Grand Prix, finishing just behind his VR46 teammate Franco Morbidelli.

Morbidelli's MotoGP Finale

This weekend also marks a farewell for Franco Morbidelli. He will make his final appearance for VR46 and in MotoGP at Misano before moving to the WorldSBK championship in 2027. "Misano is always amazing, the atmosphere is magical and the home crowd is always special," Morbidelli said. He outlined his goal for a clean weekend, aiming to extract maximum performance. He identified the Misano and Brazilian rounds as the most important races of his year.

VR46's 2027 Line-Up

The VR46 Ducati team will feature an entirely new rider pairing for the 2027 season. The confirmed line-up is Fermin Aldeguer alongside Nicolo Bulega, whose seat is marked as 'to be confirmed' in the team's plans.