Fabio Di Giannantonio achieved his first MotoGP victory at the recent Qatar Grand Prix, a win that has been widely discussed. During the race, while running in second position behind Pecco Bagnaia, Di Giannantonio received a ‘Mapping 8’ message from his team, which he chose to ignore, ultimately winning at the Lusail circuit.
This victory is particularly significant as Di Giannantonio’s future in MotoGP was not secured at the time. Although there were talks about him replacing Marc Márquez at Repsol Honda, the negotiations reached a standstill. However, with the potential confirmation of Luca Marini joining the Japanese team, a seat might be available at Mooney VR46 for Di Giannantonio, who has recently demonstrated his potential.
In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Di Giannantonio expressed that this result was an answer to those who doubted him. He believes that results are just a matter of time, as seen with the current World Champion, Pecco Bagnaia. He emphasized the importance of having people around who believe in a rider’s potential.
Reflecting on his two challenging seasons in MotoGP, Di Giannantonio dedicated his first victory in the premier class to himself. After crossing the finish line, he received congratulations from his brand colleagues and rivals, including Bagnaia, Enea Bastianini, and his teammate Alex Márquez. He was touched by the gestures, especially a message from Zarco, which he found heartwarming.
Regarding his future, Di Giannantonio admitted that his results wouldn’t have changed his destiny at Gresini Racing, as his place in the Italian team will be taken by Marc Márquez. He expressed his views on Márquez’s situation, stating, “Marc’s story is peculiar, he is an eight-time champion, but in the short term, he doesn’t have results, due to Honda’s fatigue. It’s more of a marketing operation. Although I’m convinced he will do very well.”
Di Giannantonio also discussed the surreal possibility of joining Repsol Honda, acknowledging that Honda’s difficult moment and the decision to sign a young rider might have been daunting for them. He expressed gratitude towards Alberto Puig for his interest and found him to be transparent and sincere.
Reflecting on the Qatar race, Di Giannantonio recalled a similar situation in 2006 between Valentino Rossi and Toni Elias, noting that Elias signed a contract the day after his win. He admitted apologizing to Bagnaia after the race but emphasized that it was his opportunity and he had to try at all costs.