Sepang on a MotoGP bike is ‘insane’ says rookie Di Giannantonio

Gresini Ducati rider Fabio Di Giannantonio recovered from his Shakedown illness to complete 42 laps on day-one of the Sepang MotoGP test.

The Italian rider, who missed two days of action due to a stomach illness, was back in action as he finished 20th, one place behind expected 2022 title contender Francesco Bagnaia. 

Speaking about his condition and what it’s like to ride a MotoGP bike around the Sepang International Circuit, Di Giannantonio said: "Definitely better. The two days of the Shakedown test were like hell for me because I was laying down on the bed and I couldn’t move honestly. 

"I’m feeling better and today I could do plenty of laps, I think around 40 laps. It was an okay thing. 

"Sepang is great, honestly. Sepang has always been great and is a great circuit since I have been in Moto3. It’s a super wide track, super fast track and also one of the longest I think. 

"With the MotoGP it’s insane because you reach such big speeds. It’s so good to ride here and the first impressions are good. Today we did many, many steps forward so I’m quite happy about my today."

Part of a four-rider rookie class in MotoGP this season, the former two-time Moto2 race winner was keen to stress that not over-complicating things is a must during this test. 

With Di Giannantonio missing valuable track time earlier in the week compared to the likes of Raul Fernandez, Marco Bezzecchi and Darryn Binder, and the much larger learning curve that is MotoGP, the focus for the 23 year-old is instead to ‘gain experience’.    

Talking about the differences of MotoGP compared to Moto2&3, classes where the rider can understand better the set-up according to the Italian rider, Di Giannantonio added: "Well, honestly the work in MotoGP is very different compared to the work in Moto2 and Moto3. In Moto3 and Moto2, when the rider has experience he can know much more things about the bike. 

"He can understand better the set-up of the bike. In MotoGP there are… woah! There are a huge number of things to consider. 

"If the rider starts to think about all these things then for sure he will be slow on track because he will have too many things to think about. 

"I just arrived here knowing that I needed to gain experience and work with Manuel Pogialli (Gresini Racing rider coach), work on my lines, my riding style and I have a great group of guys that work on the bike, on the set-up and get ready my two babies (bikes)."