In the splendid setting of Villa Miani, the eternal city of Rome provided the backdrop for the presentation of the new Pertamina VR46 team liveries that Fabio Di Giannantonio will be flaunting as he prepares to tackle the 2026 MotoGP season. The rider from Rome—in his third year with Valentino Rossi's team managed by Uccio Salucci, and in his second year with an official contract with Ducati—will take to the track with a darker look, in which aggressive black is combined with the team's iconic yellow.
So Fabio will be enveloped in a more "racing" mix of light and shadow for 2026, as he looks ahead towards the present and his personal journey. And he's doing this at the dawn of a unique season in which the freeze on development and a riders market that's ready to explode promise to shake up the early stages of a championship that many have defined as "transitional".
"After the break, I started training again, and now we're finally back on track," Di Giannantonio said. "I focused mainly on my physical condition, which was the most important aspect, and now I'm ready. I also wanted to spend some time at home during the break because it gave me even more desire and energy to get back on track. I like the bike, and having the same team and staff again will help, because we all know each other a bit already. We have a well-established way of working, and I'm psyched."
This year, you'll be on the track with a contrast of black and yellow on the bike, a mix of more aggressive colors.
"Black is definitely a more aggressive color. The previous bike with white was elegant, but we also like to be more racing-oriented."
In recent years, we've seen bikes from previous years have an advantage in terms of competitiveness at the start of the season. Do you expect the same dynamic or will we see a different championship thanks to the change for 2027?
"We'll see in two weeks and, even though development for next year will have to stop, it's also going to be an opportunity to push as hard as possible. I think it'll be a year to focus on the present and that will be the same for everyone. The rider and the manufacturer who want to fight for the title will have to focus on today and tomorrow, because every day counts. For my part, with the team and Ducati, the goal is to stay focused on the present, starting from the tests."
It's also foing to be a year of rider transfers. Will this affect your state of mind?
"Personally, I don't think it's going to be a particularly important factor. My focus remains on continuing to improve and progress, like I have been doing in recent years. My last season was my best ever, with the most podiums, so I want to continue on this path, to consistently finish on the podium and win races. The main focus is on myself. Everything else is a logical consequence."
Consistency is perhaps one of the most difficult aspects to maintain. Do you already have an idea or a plan in mind or will you have to wait until you get on the track?
"Last season was unusual, both for the factory team and for factory riders, in general. We had some difficulties with the bike and that had an impact. Having the same staff and proven data is already a big step forward. Now we'll have to get to know each other again and understand what works and what doesn't, but we'll start from a good foundation. I'm convinced that Ducati is also working hard to give us a bike that's more predictable, so to speak, from one condition to another. So, the top people should be demanding consistency. That's what it takes to be another part of the team."
Is Marc Marquez's presence in the Ducati family more of an incentive and an advantage or could it also become a limitation because he distracts attention and draws it to himself?
"The attention goes to the rider who wins, which was him last year. Having him available to study is definitely helpful. In my case, we always try to compare data, and it has often helped us grow as a team and me as a rider. Having a great rival in the team is, therefore, helpful. I like challenges. Having a great champion close by motivates me to want to do more and try to stay ahead of him, which is what we always try to do when we're on the track."
Among your rivals, which ones do you think will put the most pressure on you this year?
"In recent races, we've seen that the other manufacturers have closed the gap considerably. There's no longer that gap between Ducati and the other manufacturers. In recent years, there was almost a standing per constructor, whereas now there's a nice mix. Aprilia has done an incredible job, closing the gap considerably with Bezzecchi, who's had a great season. We're seeing Martin come back. The Hondas are coming and have scored many more points than in recent years. Even for Yamaha, we've often seen Quartararo ahead of everyone else in qualifying and, in KTM, we've seen Acosta do very well alongside Maverick. It's going be a competitive year from this point of view. The level is very high, and we're all really close so, as a team, we have to try to improve and maintain this gap with our rivals."
This will be your second season as an official Ducati rider. Will you try to have more say in decisions about the bike or are you satisfied with the way things are?
"Actually, Ducati has always listened to me a lot but, unfortunately, I couldn't have my say right away last season because of my injury. I hope this year will be different. We've already started laying the groundwork with winter testing and talking to Ducati about how to set up the work for the first tests. This will make a difference in the development of the bike, when there will be time to improve, understand, and change. It's different from getting to the third race and being out of the running, unable to ask for this or that to be changed."
If you could steal a talent from your teammate...?
"From Franco, I'd take his aggressiveness on the track that, in his case, is a great thing. Surely, with his aggressiveness in some situations, I could've perhaps won a few podiums or a few more positions. This lesser reverential fear of your opponent could be useful to me in some battles."
How important are the winter tests?
"Now that they've been reduced, they've become even more important. They serve to give direction, to bring ideas to the track, but they also serve to get back on track even if, on the first day, we're already half a second off the track record, because it's happened before. When you race at these levels, testing is essential."
We'll see several new features this season. Which one intrigues you the most?
"First of all, I'm curious to see all the new colors and liveries we'll see on the track this year. I've always loved this first part of the season, ever since I was a kid and turned on the TV to see the colors of the different teams."
With the move to Liberty Media finalized this season, big changes are expected. What are your expectations?
"Certainly, anything that improves the visibility of this sport, the teams, and the partners is something that's good for everyone. Even though we're all already very busy, I think we're all willing and open to showing this sport to the world. I'm curious to see what they can bring us. They've helped another sport grow a lot, so I hope they can do the same with this one."
How would you describe the MotoGP to someone who doesn't know it?
"It's forty-five minutes of the most active sport there is. It's an incredible spectacle where you never get bored, and you always have fun."