Fabio Di Giannantonio's season started in a decidedly unfortunate way. In fact, the VR46 rider's Sepang tests ended after just one day due to a fractured left collarbone suffered in a crash at the end of the session. With the Roman forced to return to Italy to undergo fresh surgery on the shoulder already operated on in November 2024, the Tavullia-based team and Ducati will have to carry on the work by relying once again on test rider Michele Pirro. Or maybe not.
Providing an alternative solution to the Apulian rider was Scott Redding, who has offered to get on the bike left orphaned by the injured Diggia. "Not enough Michele Pirro at this rates. Call me call if needed," the British rider wrote on Instagram, making himself completely available to the Pertamina Enduro VR46 team.
In fact, Redding would have time to make a stop in Thailand for testing on February 12-13, before heading to Phillip Island for the final finishing touches ahead of the start of World Superbike. Despite the excellent form shown this winter, it is hard to believe that Valentino Rossi's team would decide to accept the proposal of the 32-year-old, who has not been on a MotoGP bike since 2018. A year in which he raced with the Aprilia RS-GP fielded by the then Aprilia Racing Team Gresini.
But it would certainly be interesting to see how Scott might fare on the Desmosedici GP25. Also in light of Andrea Iannone's performance in last year's Malaysian GP, contested by the Abruzzo rider precisely as a replacement for the unavailable Di Giannantonio.