DI GIANNANTONIO SAYS MOTOGP SAFETY MEETINGS MAKE LITTLE PROGRESS

Fabio Di Giannantonio says he stopped attending MotoGP’s Friday safety commission because he felt riders’ requests were not leading to meaningful progress. The VR46 rider’s comments highlight why participation has dwindled: at the meeting in Motegi, where officials outlined the 2027 weekend format, only four riders were present.

The commission is intended to give riders a regular forum to raise safety and welfare concerns with the championship. But Di Giannantonio said he found it difficult to make headway on the issues riders brought forward. “I stopped going to the Safety Commission because I found it difficult to make progress on the issues we raised – but not because we hate each other,” he said in Mandalika.

He acknowledged that decisions are not straightforward, with MotoGP balancing riders’ concerns against the interests of teams, manufacturers, fans and host countries. “I’m sure that those in charge of MotoGP always want to provide the riders with the best possible solution,” he said. “However, they also have to consider the needs of the teams, manufacturers, fans, and host countries.”

Di Giannantonio also said riders had come close to organising an association to give them a stronger collective voice, but that some riders had hindered the effort. “We weren’t far from organising ourselves as riders to speak with a stronger voice, but many riders somehow hindered that,” he said. After seeing the initiative stall, he chose to focus his time elsewhere. “When I found out about that, I decided to dedicate more time to my physical condition and spend more time in my box.”

The low turnout in Japan left little opportunity for riders to discuss or challenge the proposed 2027 format. The change has drawn differing views across the grid: Francesco Bagnaia and Luca Marini support it, while Pedro Acosta and Alex Marquez have raised concerns about the additional sessions. Di Giannantonio, who was not at the Motegi meeting, said he has no firm view on the change. He expects it to suit some riders and teams, while those who benefit from extra track time to experiment and build confidence may find it less favourable.

“At the moment it’s just a change,” he said. “I think it will be great for the riders and the teams that it will match perfectly, because at the end you have less time on track, so it will be okay.” For riders who need more laps to make attempts and find their feeling, he added, “for sure it will be a little worse.”