Ducati MotoGP rider Fabio di Giannantonio shows promising progress at Sepang test
With a cautious yet optimistic outlook, Fabio di Giannantonio believes he has overcome last year's front-end challenges on the GP25. However, he remains reserved in his final judgment until the Buriram test.
The VR46 Ducati rider achieved an impressive third place on the Sepang MotoGP test timesheets, despite limited opportunities to test his preferred 'full package' of parts. Over three days, di Giannantonio explored various hardware and setup options, consistently reporting a positive front-end experience.
"I'm thrilled with these three days of testing," he said. "The speed and feel were always there. I'm pleased because I didn't experience any slow laps during our various runs."
Di Giannantonio experimented with numerous setup adjustments and new chassis and aero components. He expressed disappointment due to the rain on the previous day, which prevented him from completing the full package of tests.
"We needed a few more runs to finalize the full package," he noted. "I believe we'll see the complete package in Thailand."
During the test, di Giannantonio's best lap was a 1:56.785 in the morning, followed by a slightly slower 1:57.093 in the afternoon. He attempted to improve in the time attack session, but the results were counterproductive.
"We tried something new in the afternoon, aiming to enhance performance, but it backfired," he explained. "Despite the '57.0 lap, it wasn't with the optimal setup for us."
Di Giannantonio's GP26 has demonstrated a notable level of consistency, a significant improvement from the unpredictable front-end behavior of the GP25 in the 2025 season. He attributes this to finding a consistent feel from the front.
"The biggest issue for me was achieving consistency in the front feel," he confirmed. "With the changes we've made, the front feels good, which is a significant improvement."
The key question now is whether this predictability will translate to the final test at Buriram later this month. Di Giannantonio is optimistic but cautious.
"Let's see if we can replicate this performance in Thailand," he said. "That's the crucial part."
Despite the high grip levels at the end of the Sepang test, di Giannantonio considers them realistic.
"The grip level in Malaysia is consistently good, and it improves further by the end of the race weekend," he explained. "The track conditions during the test were still within a manageable range, allowing us to understand our progress."
Teammate Franco Morbidelli finished seventh fastest on the satellite-spec machine, refuting the notion that it could be called a GP25.
