Fabio Di Giannantonio is cautiously optimistic that the front-end issues that plagued last year’s GP25 model are now behind him, though he plans to withhold final judgment until testing in Buriram. The VR46 Ducati rider secured third place on the Sepang MotoGP test timesheet with the upgraded GP26, even though he didn’t get a chance to run his preferred parts all together in one session.
Over the three days of testing, Di Giannantonio experimented with various components and setups, yet consistently felt confident with the bike’s front-end performance. “I’m really happy with the past three days of testing because both the speed and the feel were constantly there,” he commented. “No matter how I ran, I didn’t have any slow laps, so I’m satisfied.”
The team tested many different setups and tried new chassis and aerodynamic parts, though the rain on the second day was a setback, preventing him from fully completing his ideal package. “I believe we’ll be able to see the full package come together in Thailand.”
His fastest lap during the test was a 1:56.785 in the final morning session, slightly slower than the 1:57.093 in the afternoon. “We attempted some tweaks during the afternoon time attack to improve, but it was the opposite. We still posted a solid 57.0, which was a strong lap, but not the best setup for us.”
Reflecting on his struggles last season with the GP25’s inconsistent front-end feedback, Di Giannantonio described the GP26 feeling as “predictable,” marking a notable step forward. “My biggest issue was finding consistent front-end feel,” he admitted. “Now, with the changes we made, the front feels improved, which is already a solid improvement.”
The real test will be whether this newfound consistency holds up under different track conditions at Buriram later this month. “We’ll see if we can replicate it in varied conditions in Thailand. That’s the crucial part,” he added.
Despite high grip levels during the Sepang test, Di Giannantonio maintained they were realistic, noting, “Grip in Malaysia is always good, and by the end of race weekends, it gets even better. So the track at test time was still within a range that helped me understand what I was doing.”
Meanwhile, teammate Franco Morbidelli ranked seventh fastest in the satellite Ducati, although he rejected calling the bike a GP25.
Fan Take: This update is promising news for racing fans, as Di Giannantonio’s improved confidence in the GP26’s front-end could signal a more competitive and consistent season ahead. If these developments hold at Buriram, Ducati’s chances of challenging for podiums and perhaps wins may increase, adding excitement to the championship battle.
