MotoGP Japan: Fabio di Giannantonio: ‘If no Gresini seat, I’d grab a Honda opportunity’

Amid the relentless Marc Marquez rumours, current Gresini Ducati rider Fabio di Giannantonio gave a reminder of his MotoGP potential by matching his career best during a competitive weekend in Japan.
di Giannantonio and Mir, Japanese MotoGP, 2023
di Giannantonio and Mir, Japanese MotoGP, 2023

The Italian was quick tᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚhroughout the Motegi round: A strong sixth in Friday practice and then qualifying before equalling his best MotoGP finish with eig😼hth in the Sprint.

That result was repeated a day later in the wet grand prix, which was halted at🌺 half distance due to the conditꦫions.

“I am super happy and su🐲per proud about the weeke🐟nd,” di Giannantonio said.

“We did a great job in every condition we were facing but I have bittersweet feeling with the race because we had a little problem, I cannot say what, that meant I could not push for the front in the first five laps.

“We did a good jobꩲ anyway but maybe🐠 without the problem we could do a lot better than this.

“But I’m happy because in the end it is equalling my best finish in MoꦗtoGP with 💮P8, another top ten, another good result… But it could have been something better.

“We will bring this positive energy to the next races and we arrive at a moment in the calendar🦩 whe🍃re the races are [in quick succession], so let’s see.”

di Giannantonio is 1🌼6th in the world championship, with six rounds🐭 to go.

Fabio Di Giannantonio, Japanese MotoGP 28 September
Fabio Di Giannantonio, Japanese MotoGP 28 September

If Marc Marquez to Gresini, di Giannantonio to LCR?

Although GASGAS is set for 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:a shake-up to accommodate 🦄Pedro Acosta, di Giannantonio’s seat is the only ride still officially free f🎉or 2024.

🌱Should Marc Marquez indeed ✨move to Gresini alongside brother Alex (currently injured) next season, could di Giannantonio swap over to Honda?

In the event of a Marquez-Honda split, rather than joining LCR as planned, new HRC signing Johann Zarco is tipped to take over from th⛄e ಞ#93 at Repsol alongside Joan Mir.

That would leave a seat free at LCR, opposite Takaaki Nakagami. Honda WorldSBK rider and MotoGP stand-in Iker Lecuona is tipped as a contender for such a vacancy,ꦕ b♕ut would di Giannantonio also be interested?

“If we don’t have a seat for nextܫ year [here] and Lucio [Cecchinello] has a place for me, for sure I will take the opportunity with open arms,” di Giannantonio said.

“Also because I think that Honda is struggling in this𝕴 period, but Honda is Honda. It’s one of the greatest, if not the greatest, company about bikes in terms of factories in the world.

“So I🀅 don’t think [Honda] will always be in a tough moment in the future. So why not grab another opportuꦦnity?

“For sure, at the moment I am fully focused on racing, as I always say. I'm fully focused on being the best rider anಞd doing the best job I can with the Ducati and my team.

“Also because it is not done yet. Nothing is done﷽ yet [for🌳 2024].

“It would be amazing for my growth, my personal growth to🐟 continue with my [Gresini] team and my bike for one year more.

“But for sure if there is no place🍰, I need to find another place and so we will considerℱ everything.”

Some rumours have also li🔯nked di G♔iannantonio with a return to Moto2, but he insisted:

“At theꦛ moment our priority and main goal is to remain in MotoGP. If or when there are no more seats available [in MotoGP], then we will consider other things.”

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