News Summary
- Fabio Di Giannantonio says contact with Marc Márquez caused his Ducati to shift into first gear at the start of the Indonesian MotoGP sprint.
- The VR46 rider explained that he was stuck on the rev limiter as he accelerated out of Turn 1.
- The contact formed part of the opening-corner incident involving four riders, which ended with Fernández and Bezzecchi crashing out.
Fabio Di Giannantonio has revealed that contact with Marc Márquez unexpectedly knocked his Ducati into first gear during the opening corner of the Indonesian MotoGP sprint, contributing to the chain of events that eliminated Raúl Fernández and Marco Bezzecchi at Mandalika.
The VR46 rider was positioned on the inside of Turn 1 when Márquez approached alongside him, with Bezzecchi and Fernández further towards the outside. All four riders were fighting for position immediately after the start.
According to Di Giannantonio, Márquez’s right knee brushed against his left foot, causing an unexpected gear change as the group negotiated the corner. The Italian subsequently found himself on the rev limiter in first gear as he attempted to accelerate away.
Di Giannantonio explains contact with Márquez
Speaking after Saturday’s sprint, Di Giannantonio described being hit while braking for Turn 1.
“I don’t know anything, guys,” Di Giannantonio told reporters. “You have to ask the other guys. I was on the inside and I just did my braking and got hit by another rider.”
Replays identified Márquez as the rider alongside Di Giannantonio, with the contact occurring as both Ducatis attempted to gain positions at the start.
“He caused me to have the first gear then. So when I exited from the first corner, I was on the rev limiter in first gear. So, honestly, you have to ask the others.”
The unexpected gear change affected Di Giannantonio’s acceleration out of the corner, with the Italian emerging behind several riders despite initially occupying the inside line.
Márquez describes four-rider chain reaction
Márquez offered his own explanation of the incident, describing how each rider had been looking towards the next motorcycle while braking.
“Turn 1 is easy to explain,” Márquez said.
“Four bikes in parallel. I believe that Bezzecchi was looking to Raul to brake a bit later, I was looking to Bezzecchi to brake a bit later and Diggia was looking to me to brake a bit later.”
“The consequence? Four riders out of the line and Martin going from fifth to first. It was tough and [on the] limit but it’s racing. The first corner is like this.”
The sequence left Bezzecchi with limited room as the motorcycles moved through the corner, before contact with Fernández sent both Aprilia riders out of the race.
Trackhouse team principal Davide Brivio subsequently criticised the aggressive approach to Turn 1, while Fernández placed responsibility on Bezzecchi.
GRANDE PRÊMIO reported Fernández’s reaction and fractured finger, following the incident that ended his sprint from pole position.
Di Giannantonio recovers to Mandalika podium
Despite the opening-corner contact, Di Giannantonio continued the race and remained in contention for a podium finish.
The VR46 rider ultimately finished third, 0.835s behind winner Márquez, after Jorge Martín lost positions during the closing stages.
Ai Ogura took second for Trackhouse, while Martín finished fourth after encountering tyre-pressure problems and running wide while attempting to recover.
The result gave Di Giannantonio another podium in a season in which he has remained one of Ducati’s most consistent performers outside the factory team.
Asked whether he regretted attacking aggressively at the start, the Italian defended the decision to fight for position.
“Ah, well, we are here for racing,” Di Giannantonio said.
“So, theoretically the guy that is in front wins. So, for sure, you always try to be in front.”
The complete Indonesian MotoGP sprint report details Di Giannantonio’s podium, the Aprilia incident and Márquez’s championship lead.
The complete Indonesian MotoGP schedule, including qualifying and broadcast information is available in GRANDE PRÊMIO‘s weekend guide. GRANDE PRÊMIO provides full coverage of the MotoGP championship.
