Italian rider Fabio Di Giannantonio has set an ambitious goal for the 2024 MotoGP season: to reach the same competitive level as the championship’s two leading lights, Marc Márquez and Francesco Bagnaia, aboard the Ducati GP25. Brought on by the VR46 team at the end of the 2023 season, Di Giannantonio has shown steady growth in his performance, and has earned a place within the Ducati team for next year, an opportunity that he faces with great determination and an eye toward continuous improvement.
Despite a 2023 season full of ups and downs, marked by a shoulder injury following a crash at the Austrian GP that forced him to miss the last two races, Di Giannantonio surprised many with his strong performance. On several occasions, he proved to be the most competitive rider within the group of riders sharing the Ducati GP23, with outstanding performances that allowed him to stand out behind names such as Marc Márquez, one of the greatest exponents of recent MotoGP history. This good form ultimately earned him the last Ducati seat on the GP25 bike for the 2024 season.
Despite not setting any targets strictly based on immediate results, Di Giannantonio is clear about what he expects from his season with Ducati. The young Italian has focused on his personal growth and learning as much as possible from his teammates, both on and off the track. In a recent interview, he said: “I want to grow, I want to improve and I want to learn from them,” referring to the more experienced riders he will share a team with in 2024, such as Bagnaia, Márquez and 2024 world champion Jorge Martín.
The opportunity to access the data of these riders, renowned for their exceptional ability in different areas of motorcycling, represents a valuable source of learning for Di Giannantonio. Knowing their strengths and areas for improvement is an advantage he intends to make the most of. Márquez’s left-hand corner performance, Bagnaia’s braking expertise, Bastianini’s tyre management and Martín’s dominance in qualifying are just some of the aspects that Di Giannantonio highlights as unique qualities that he will seek to incorporate into his own riding style.
Although Di Giannantonio considers his performance in the 2023 season to have been competitive, he is also aware that there is plenty of room for improvement. The Italian rider is optimistic about his progress, but acknowledges that to be on par with the likes of Márquez and Bagnaia, he will need to continue learning and perfecting his technique. “I think this year I have shown that I am competitive, but there is always something else that can be improved,” commented Di Giannantonio. With the support of Ducati and access to the best technical resources, his aim is to continue honing his style and make the most of the tools provided to him by his teammates and the Borgo Panigale factory.
Di Giannantonio’s signing with Ducati for the 2024 season represents a great opportunity for the Italian rider, who will be surrounded by some of the most talented riders in the championship. Throughout his career, he has proven to be a rider with great potential, and his incorporation into the Ducati structure will allow him to continue developing his skills. The Italian team, known for its technical strength and the competitiveness of its bike, will provide the perfect environment for Di Giannantonio to continue growing as a rider and get closer to the level of the big names in MotoGP.
With 2024 shaping up to be a key season for his future in MotoGP, Fabio Di Giannantonio is approaching his opportunity at Ducati with ambition and humility. Learning from riders like Marc Márquez and Francesco Bagnaia, combining that experience with his own style and putting into practice the lessons learned throughout the season will be essential to reaching the competitive level he has set for himself. Despite the challenges that still lie ahead, Di Giannantonio is more than willing to fight for his place among the best and prove that he has what it takes to be at the level of the great MotoGP champions.
