Following Ducati’s loss of dominance at the Red Bull Ring in the last race, Fabio di Giannantonio is approaching the upcoming Motegi weekend with caution. Ducati had claimed victory in at least one race at the Red Bull Ring every year since its MotoGP return in 2016, but last time they were beaten by Aprilia in the Sprint and KTM in the GP, largely due to issues with the stiffer rear tyre.
Motegi has traditionally been favorable territory for Ducati, with Desmosedicis winning the previous seven races there, including Sprint events, dating back to Marc Marquez’s 2019 win on a Honda. However, di Giannantonio cautions that Austria demonstrated that no manufacturer can take their usual strongholds for granted anymore.
“I really hope Motegi remains a strong Ducati track, but we’ve already seen that these things don’t necessarily hold true anymore,” he said. “Austria was supposed to be a Ducati track as well — but that’s the exciting part of MotoGP: each time you hit the track, nothing is guaranteed. You always have to push 100% because the level of competition is incredibly high. To reclaim Motegi as a Ducati track, we need to be strong overall and execute perfectly.”
Adding to the unpredictability this weekend are Motegi’s newly laid asphalt and potential wet weather conditions. “I’m excited for the weekend,” di Giannantonio added. “With the new asphalt and uncertain conditions, especially early on, it will be a challenge for everyone, but I’m eager to get started.”
Currently sitting fifth in the world championship, di Giannantonio has yet to reach the podium since the summer break as he begins this critical overseas segment of the season.
Fan Take: This update is crucial for racing enthusiasts because it highlights how no track or manufacturer dominance is guaranteed anymore, raising the stakes for every race. It also underscores MotoGP’s growing competitiveness and unpredictability, which could lead to more thrilling and surprising outcomes for fans around the world.
Source: www.crash.net
