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Di Giannantonio on the Ducati Panigale V4R: “The Bike is Brilliant, But It’s Not Enough”
Returning from the French Grand Prix, Italian rider Fabio Di Giannantonio acknowledged the potential of the Ducati GP26 motorcycle while emphasizing that Aprilia’s current performance is “another level.” This suggests that the Italian manufacturer is seeking significant development before the 2026 season.
A Chaotic Weekend at Le Mans
Despite showing development signs at the Spanish Grand Prix, Ducati failed to meet expectations at the Le Mans circuit. The Italian manufacturer produced a strong image in qualifying but finished fourth in the main race. This result indicated that the team’s development efforts had not yet reached the desired level.
Key Lap Times:
- 1st: Jorge Martin (Aprilia)
- 2nd: Marco Bezzecchi (Ducati)
- 3rd: Ai Ogura (Aprilia)
- 4th: Fabio Di Giannantonio (Ducati)
However, Aprilia emerged as the star of the weekend. The Italian brand achieved a historic 1-2-3 result at Le Mans, with Jorge Martin taking the victory, Marco Bezzecchi finishing second, and Ai Ogura third.
Driver Comments
Fabio Di Giannantonio stated, “Aprilia is doing an incredible job. They are on another level right now. Our bike package is fantastic, but it’s not enough to beat them.”
“We have important weeks ahead of us. We need to understand how to develop the bike.”
The driver also noted, “The front never works the way we want it to. When we improve the front, we lose the rear, when we improve the rear, we lose the front.” highlighting the issues with the front end.
Position in the Championship and Future Plans
Di Giannantonio, Ducati’s most consistent name for the 2026 season, currently sits as the manufacturer’s best-placed rider in the championship. The Italian pilot, who entered the Catalonia Grand Prix as third in the standings, is 44 points behind leader Marco Bezzecchi. Furthermore, speculation continues regarding Di Giannantonio’s move to KTM for the upcoming season. However, the driver’s focus currently remains on continuing to improve Ducati’s performance.
Conclusion
Fabio Di Giannantonio’s comments revealed that Ducati is still experiencing issues with balance and front-end feel before the 2026 season. Aprilia’s race tempo and advantage in tire management, however, suggest that the balance of power in MotoGP is beginning to shift.
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