Di Giannantonio: "Aprilia is handing us gifts; Ducati needs to improve"

Even though he didn’t make it onto the podium, Di Giannantonio is satisfied with his 4th-place finish at Assen. Not only was he the first rider to cross the finish line who wasn’t riding an Aprilia, but he also further reduced his deficit in the championship standings; he is now 16 points behind the new leader, Martin. “Another ‘wooden medal,’ but this one is more than welcome because we knew Aprilia is fantastic on this track — Fabio smiles — Having closed the gap in the championship is wonderful, and a 4th-place finish is a good result. It was a tough race—the toughest on the calendar—because Assen is very physically demanding.”

And you also received a Long Lap penalty for cutting the chicane during your first attempt to pass Marquez.
“It was a race where I was constantly busy. I got off to a good start, but I made a mistake at the first corner—I braked too early. I had a lot of positions to make up, and there wasn’t a single moment in the race when I had time to think about how much was left to go. It’s always nice when you make a comeback, but it was a hard-fought race—I didn’t exactly have fun (laughs).”

Your pass on Marquez was reminiscent of the incident between him and Valentino in 2015, but with the positions reversed.
“When I saw the footage, it was interesting to note the similarities. These things happen sometimes, but they’re just coincidences.”

Did you intentionally pass him a second time at the same spot?
“I had more speed only at that spot; I would have liked to pass him in other corners, but he was going very fast. Also, when you’re behind another rider, the front tyre heats up; in other spots, I would’ve had to take more risks. That was the best spot for the pass.”

Did the penalty surprise you?
“I expected to get a small penalty because I cut the chicane, but I didn’t remember the rule at that moment (in those cases, you have to lose at least one second—Ed.), I was a bit busy (laughs). When I saw the Long Lap Penalty, I remembered. It was also my mistake not to have tested it at all over the weekend—I usually do—so I tested it during the race (laughs). The penalty was fair, though.”

Is the Long Lap lane a problem?
“It’s never as clean as the track, and there are also a lot of bumps because it’s not part of the circuit—it’s in the run-off area. You have to be very careful while serving that penalty. They do a great job preparing that lane, but it can’t be like the track. It’s part of the game.”

You were the first Ducati rider to cross the finish line.
“Yes, but it’s also true that Alex and Marc weren’t at 100%, and Pecco had a problem—but I’ll take the fact that I’m doing a good job. I’m the best of the rest.”

Does Aprilia worry you?
“I’m happy because I gave it my all and got the most out of the bike. But I’m a little concerned about this small gap we have compared to Aprilia; they’re doing fantastic things, but it’s not just thanks to the riders, who are very talented. I think their bike has something extra, too. I’m worried because we’re not managing to improve our package—which is good—but we need to take a step forward if we want to compete with them.”

It’s hard not to think about the championship when you’re just 16 points off the lead.
“I’ve always said that I’m trying to give myself the best possible chance at the end of the year, but it’s not a given that I’ll succeed. The only thing on our minds is to give it our all every day and minimize mistakes; even today I made one by braking too early into the first corner—I can’t let that happen again. I’m simply trying to be the best version of myself, and then at the end of the year we’ll see where we stand.”

Is this a season where consistency matters more than speed?
“No, the Aprilias are very fast. I’ve been saying since the start of the year that they’ve taken a step forward and are better than us right now. It’s a World Championship where I’m making few mistakes, but right now they’re the ones giving us gifts. If we want to have a real chance to compete, we need to improve our package, because we’re truly at our limit.”

Do you feel that Ducati is helping you more now that you’re their top rider in the championship?
“Ever since I’ve had official support, they’ve always been there for me. Nothing has changed just because I’m in a different position in the championship. Of course, when Marc was injured, they had more time to spend in my pit; with an extra rider, they have less. Still, I can’t say anything negative.”

Did you see Bezzecchi’s crash?
“When I used to attend Safety Commission meetings—I don’t go anymore because we have very little time for our preparations—I’d said many times that the gravel should be at the same level as the asphalt or a little higher, so it can stop the rider. Sometimes that’s not the case. Yesterday, as soon as Fermin touched the gravel, he took off. It’s dangerous; the circuits need to improve the situation—some have done so—but we have to keep being careful.”