Now, as a reliable and consistent performer, Di Giannantonio wrapped up Friday at Assen with the 7th-fastest time, just a few hundredths of a second behind his teammates Bagnaia and Marquez. Against an Aprilia that’s really competitive in fast corners, he’ll need to step it up a notch before qualifying, and the high temperatures won’t make things any easier.
But another major topic of discussion during the Dutch weekend is the removal of the front holeshot, which will force MotoGP riders to make a sudden and unexpected adjustment mid-season. It’s a change that doesn’t catch the riders in the premier class off guard, but it also inevitably raises some concerns.
“It was a really hot day,” Di Giannantonio said. “In these conditions, it drains a lot of energy, but it was the same for everyone. We tested various aerodynamic set-ups on the GP24 and the GP26 to find something that works in long, fast corners. We worked hard on this, but the lap times remained the same, so that’s not where we’re finding the margin. Ducati is working hard to figure out how to improve the bikes and get closer to the Aprilias, which are very competitive on tracks like this, so both Pecco and I are trying out a lot of different things. It’s part of the game. You have to sometimes sacrifice part of the session if you want to try to improve the bike.”
How did it feel out on the track?
"We were missing something on the fast lap, while we’re closer in terms of average pace. The bike is quite unstable, and we’re stretched thin in terms of grip at the front and rear. After all, it’s not easy to be fast when you’re testing so many changes. I don’t think we’ve shown the best of our package yet, and I believe and hope we’ll improve for tomorrow.”
You also need to work on starts without the holeshot device.
"This morning’s practice sessions went well. It’s a new experience for everyone, and we’re trying to improve. Obviously, the lap times are much slower. Entering a corner at the end of the straight is pretty standard. The only problem we might have is that you get there with the front wheel off the ground. You don’t know how high it is, so you start braking, and maybe the front closes up, even with the throttle wide open, or conversely, you risk braking while the wheel is still off the ground. For now, this is the limitation we need to keep in mind. The front device was fine in terms of safety, but, if after their analysis they say this is better, that’s fine with me. Right now, it scares me a little, but that’s just my personal opinion. The goal is always to avoid falls at the first corner.”
What are your expectations?
"The main goal will be to secure a spot in the front row, especially since it’ll be tough to overtake at these temperatures. We know the Aprilias are a bit better than us in fast corners, and that’s what we’re working on. The track, however, is still incredible. Fast and old school."