Di Giannantonio Achieves Long-Awaited Home Podium
Fabio Di Giannantonio secured his first-ever home Grand Prix podium at the Italian GP. As a child, he dreamed of standing on the Mugello podium—a stage graced by heroes like Valentino Rossi, Loris Capirossi, and Max Biaggi. This achievement carried deep personal significance for him. With a much-improved bike since the Aragón test and strong pace throughout the weekend, he turned the disappointment of missing the podium in the Sprint into a triumphant main race result. Especially from seven laps to go, he was spurred on by seeing “P4” on the pit board, and capitalized on Pecco Bagnaia’s struggles in the final stages with a calm and incisive overtake to claim third place.
A childhood dream realized
“A podium at the Italian GP has been my dream since I was a child. I watched the podiums of Valentino, Capirossi, Biaggi... At Mugello, the fans gather on the straight after the race to celebrate, so experiencing that moment was truly special.”
Confidence in progress since Aragón and weekend pace
“The bike has improved since the Aragón test, and we had speed all weekend. Yesterday, we had the potential in the Sprint but couldn’t make the podium. Today, especially from seven laps to go, I really pushed. When I saw ‘P4’ on the pit board, I told myself that third place was the only option.”
Calm judgment in the decisive moments
“I could see that Pecco was struggling in the final laps. Though he still had speed and strong braking despite front-end issues, I focused on using the rear tire. I waited for the moment when he was more relaxed, and it turned out to be a good overtake.”
Data-driven analysis and satisfaction with the podium
“We saw in the data that Marc was having a bit of trouble with the front tire and in right-hand corners—so if I had gotten close enough, I might have challenged him. But I’m satisfied with the podium today.”
Emotional podium in front of Valentino Rossi
“Valentino was here today, and I’m really happy I could deliver a podium for Italy. With so many fans here, this is a moment I’ll never forget.”