Best Ducati rider at Mandalika? For Di Giannantonio, “not the goal”

7th place in the first free practice session, 6th in qualifying – four thousandths of a second slower than Ducati’s frontrunner Marc Marquez: Fabio Di Giannantonio’s start to the MotoGP weekend in Indonesia went well: “We’re on the right track!” “Diggia’s” fondness for the Mandalika Street Circuit certainly helped: “I enjoy riding here; it was a good day. We had a good feeling on this track right from the very first metres.”

In the run-up to the race weekend on the island of Lombok, the VR46 frontrunner and his team set about identifying any issues: “We wanted to prepare as well as possible and analysed the last few races, particularly the one at Motegi.” On the starting grid, the Italian secured sixth place, but finished the race in 18th.

Di Giannantonio: “I want to regain the feeling I had a few races ago”

Di Giannantonio, who was still within striking distance of the top of the World Championship standings before the summer break, has not managed to secure a podium finish since the sprint race at Assen. Despite several yellow flags, the timing worked out well for the former Moto3 World Championship runner-up in qualifying: “I knew I had what it takes for a good lap time and my first attempt was already good. I had to position myself well, but I knew I still had something up my sleeve.”

Qualifying ended with Di Giannantonio securing direct entry into Q2 and sitting on a par with the Ducati factory team’s frontrunner, Marc Marquez. Could next year’s KTM rider beat the world champion and, in doing so, become the fastest man on a Ducati GP26 this weekend? “That’s not my goal! I’d rather get back the feeling I had a few races ago. Whatever comes after that will be the result of our work.” The results would follow naturally. “We’re doing a good job. That’s what we need to focus on.”

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Mandalika: International Livestream

MotoGP World Championship

10.10.2026 - 02:35