Fabio di Giannantonio will not start 2025 “100%”

Having undergone shoulder surgery after the Thailand Grand Prix, Fabio Di Giannantonio has missed the last two rounds of the 2024 season. MotoGP. He did, however, return to the paddock for the Barcelona Test. Although he did not take part, he stayed with the team to get to know the people with whom he is about to share a new season at VR46.

A campaign that could be the most important of his career, given that he will be equipped with the latest version of Ducati's Desmosedici GP, namely the GP25. He will therefore also be supervised by the Borgo Panigale staff, as were Jorge Martin and Franco Morbidelli this season.

He will also have the opportunity to collaborate with the chief mechanic who worked with Morbidelli on the Pramac side, Massimo Branchini. Just like the engineer responsible for electronics who worked until now with Jorge Martin. A transfer of personnel made possible after the departure of Pramac Racing to Yamaha.

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A shoulder that feels better

Having received news early in the afternoon, the Italian was able to draw a reassuring assessment of his rehabilitation, which is expected to be faster than expected. So fast that the idea of ​​regretting having given up on the races in Malaysia and Barcelona crossed his mind.

"I'm fine. These last few days I've been doing much better compared to last week, confided Fabio di Giannantonio in Barcelona last Tuesday. I had the operation on the Saturday of the Malaysian Grand Prix. The first few days were quite difficult. It was impossible to sleep. The pain was high, let's say. But now I'm really doing well. The medical staff is also quite impressed with the progress I'm making day by day. Day by day I'm improving a lot."

"If I improve that quickly, and I'm back that quickly, obviously I'm going to regret missing the last two races a little bit, then admits the Transalpine. But I think we did it in the right timing, because even if it happens, and I recover faster. I will have time to train and be ready for next season. At the moment, the plan is to do the first official test in Sepang."

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Di Giannantonio fears pain in 2025

Before heading to Malaysia, Fabio di Giannantonio's physical preparation will be more demanding than usual. Having suffered a shoulder injury since July, he admitted before undergoing surgery that he had not trained properly since then.

"We won't be 100% physically I think, he acknowledges. If you saw me naked, it wouldn't be a great sight, but you would see that I have lost a lot of muscle. To rebuild that muscle, and get back in shape, it will take a long time. So for now, I think we've done everything at the right time."

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A training that he will not be able to resume anytime soon, while the start of the season is likely to arrive sooner than expected. The Official Pre-Season Test organized in Malaysia will indeed take place at the beginning of February, just after the Shakedown organized from January 31 to February 2.

“Next week I’m going to start working a little bit in the pool, in the water. In two weeks I’ll take my splint off. I’ll start the rehabilitation in an active way. Moving the shoulder by myself. So yes, I’m completing the process. It’s going to be long, I’ve got a long winter ahead of me, but I’m feeling good right now.” concludes Fabio di Giannantonio.