Di Giannantonio on the podium at home: “It’s a dream”

After the victories of Alex Márquez in Spain and Johann Zarco in France, 2025 is definitely a year of firsts at home in MotoGPThis weekend at Mugello, Fabio Di Giannantonio took the first Italian podium of his career. The VR46 rider ousted his compatriot, Francesco Bagnaia, on the penultimate lap.

At the finish, nothing and no one could upset Di Giannantonio's joy, not even the absence of Valentino Rossi, probably linked to the victory of his eternal rival Marc Márquez. “It was a dream to be on this podium, he enthused. When I was little, I saw pilots like Vale (Reds) with all the spectators at the foot of the podium… it's so special. I'll never forget this moment."

Di Giannantonio built this podium from the Test in Aragón. "We had to fight hard to get it, but fortunately we were able to make a big step forward in the tests in Aragon to improve the bike and be fast this weekend.", he explained, assuring that the sensations of Saturday had given him great hopes. I saw that we had great potential during the Sprint. I was happy, but also frustrated, because I already wanted a podium. (SATURDAY)"

“Champagne or gravel”

Determined, the Italian could not accept any other result during the Grand Prix. “Today I gave it my all, especially the last 7-8 laps, he recalled. I saw '4th' on the scoreboard, and I thought: no! At Mugello, not 4th. 3rd or nothing.

Asked about the possibility of playing for victory with a better start, the Italian did not want to get carried away. "Maybe, yes. I don't want to say it was a certainty, because with 'ifs' and 'buts' you get nowhere., he tempered. Marc (Márquez) was fantastic here, but he's always struggled with the front end on this track, and that's what you saw on the analysis with Ducati. So maybe. But it's only maybe."

Di Giannantonio secured his second podium of the season after Austin, and had a nice phrase to sum up his attacking temperament on the penultimate lap. “One of my mechanics in Moto3 said: 'champagne or gravel'. So I gave it my all.”

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