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With the arduous choice that awaits Ducati's top management in view of 2025, and the imminent announcement of Aleix Espargaró's future, the rider market is the big topic that everyone is talking about on Thursday at Montmeló. A topic of discussion from which even Fabio Di Giannantonio could not escape, pressed by the questions of the journalists present in Catalunya, who immediately asked the Roman rider what he would do if he found himself in Gigi Dall'Igna's shoes, having to decide who among Jorge Martin, Marc Marquez and Enea Bastianini, to flank Francesco Bagnaia next season.
"It's difficult, also because I'm in the position where anything I say would be detrimental to someone," replied Fabio, laughing, in an attempt not to step out of line. "I think this is perhaps the best period in Ducati's history, because they are having to choose between the top three riders in the championship, so whatever choice they make I think will be wise and suitable. Let's say they are in a good moment."
Asked then about his aspirations for next year, Di Giannantonio showed instead that he has clear ideas about the scenario he would like to see materialize for himself.
"It would be nice to grow and try to take steps forward to be more and more competitive and, at the same time, I would love to have continuity, as I have always changed teams in recent years, so why not continue with the same team but being a bit more competitive? - noted the current Pertamina Enduro VR46 team rider - The goal is to do well, because right now we are a little bit at the back of the market. Not in the sense of last but that we are waiting for Ducati's decisions, which will trigger a lot of cascading things. But I am very comfortable with my team and I would like to continue my growth and learn even more from VR46, which is a factory team that currently has a private package. It would be cool to continue with this team next year, maybe with a factory package. "
What if a factory team other than Ducati comes knocking on his door?
"Of course all riders aspire to a factory team. It's nice to be a factory rider and work directly with them, also because when the bike is competitive, it gives you the opportunity to really fight for the World Championship. But right now I'm on a Ducati, which seems to be the best bike on the grid, and I think that continuing with my team, maybe with a factory package, would be ideal for me," reiterated the 25-year-old, who is very reluctant to embark on an adventure like Luca Marini's: "I would evaluate everything of course, but at this moment in my career, I think I would always choose a technical package that would allow me to win races. "
A decision that, after all, the Roman came close to making last year, when he found himself considering replacing Marc Marquez in the Repsol Honda team.
"At that historical moment, if I had to choose between the two roads, I would have chosen one to win races, as this one could perhaps be. But at the same time, in case I was in the Honda team, it would still be both a beautiful project because you wear one of the most important colours on the grid and you have on your shoulders an important project, which is to take to the top a bike that is struggling a little bit more but it is still the Honda - noted Fabio - As I said, they are two different projects and I do not consider the Honda one bad, however, I am very happy with where I am now ."
As he wants to continue with the team from Tavullia, would Diggia ever follow in the footsteps of Marco Bezzecchi, turning down a team like Pramac to continue wearing the colors of VR46? "It is always difficult to judge the choices of others. If I happen to find myself in a similar situation I will see what to do (smiles), but in my opinion Marco made this choice for the team and, in general, to have serenity on a mental level and confidence in the people you work with is an extra gear - he said - If he made this choice, he will surely have had his reasons and maybe for himself he did the right things."
Turning his gaze instead to the track, the Roman said he is looking forward to this weekend in Catalunya.
"We arrive at Barcelona , which is one of my favorite tracks because it is fantastic and it is also one of the most tricky tracks in terms of grip, because it is very slippery and with high tyre degradation. It will be interesting to have a race where we can manage the tyres, which is one of the aspects I really like about MotoGP. I can't wait to get out on the track, also because we are coming from a good moment and I want to make the last step to stay with the riders in front ," said Di Giannantonio, who already has in mind where to work to close the gap with the leaders: "At Le Mans we were very fast, but the bike was moving a lot in the corners and that killed our race. However, we know why it happened and we have a lot of ideas to improve here. I think if we can progress a little bit in corner exit we can be faster and take a few tenths off."
