Fabio Di Giannantonio embraces 'underwolf' role in MotoGP

VR46 Ducati MotoGP rider Fabio Di Giannantonio says he lives well as the championship's 'underwolf'. The Italian holds fourth in the standings, 48 points behind leader Jorge Martin after a tough Aragon weekend.

He spent much of the 2026 season as Ducati's leading rider. Di Giannantonio even won the Catalan Grand Prix while carrying a hand injury from the Alex Marquez incident. In an exclusive interview with Crash.net at Silverstone, he stated he has what it takes to be a champion.

Self-assessment of a contender

Asked if he feels undervalued, Di Giannantonio pointed to his talent and speed. He cited his wins and podiums as proof. Yet he hesitates to call himself a top rider. For him, that title belongs to those who have won championships.

'I've been close in Moto3. Not really in Moto2,' he said. 'And now in MotoGP we are working for this. I think that I have the potential to make it, but still I have to make it.'

He prefers his unique label. 'So, it's good. I live good being the 'underwolf' - not the underdog,' Di Giannantonio explained. He enjoys the fan support when an underdog performs well, but says it doesn't change his own approach. His focus remains on doing his maximum.

A hard-earned factory future

His current form has secured a major career move. Di Giannantonio has earned a factory KTM deal for next season. This comes just three years after he faced losing his place on the grid entirely.

His debut in 2022 with Gresini was difficult. Form only arrived late in the 2023 season, culminating in a maiden victory in Qatar. By then, however, his seat had already been promised to Marc Marquez.

The VR46 team threw him a lifeline after Luca Marini's move to Honda. His performances in 2024 were strong enough to secure official factory support from Ducati for himself and the team.

Plea for patience with young riders

Di Giannantonio believes his career path is a lesson for the paddock. Teams should give young riders more time to develop, he argues. He feels there is insufficient analysis of how a rider achieves results, works in a garage, or truly rides the bike.

'I think we can improve a lot on the decisions of the riders,' he stated. The current era of MotoGP demands patience because the competition is fiercer than ever.

He contrasted today's field with the past. Years ago, there were clear tiers of bikes for winning, midfield, and last place. A fifth-place rider could finish 30 seconds behind the winner. Now, that gap would put you last.

'The last years, the guy you think is really bad - that guy is amazing,' Di Giannantonio said. He argued that such a rider could win championships in other categories. Reaching the pinnacle in modern MotoGP requires extensive work in the garage, the best people, and time to build affinity with the bike.