FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO LOOKS TO FINISH STRONG AT MISANO IN HIS FINAL VR46 HOME RACE

Fabio di Giannantonio is heading into this weekend’s Misano MotoGP with a clear sense of occasion: it will be his final home race for VR46, with the Italian set to leave the local squad after three seasons. Di Giannantonio’s VR46 stint has included a highlight win at Catalunya this year, but the championship picture has tightened in recent rounds, leaving him with work to do at the track only 13 kilometres from VR46’s Tavullia base.

Misano matters for more than sentiment. Di Giannantonio has slipped in the standings over the last four events, losing ground to title leader Jorge Martin. He is currently fourth in the world championship, 48 points behind the top, and he hasn’t stood on the Sunday podium since his Barcelona victory. With nine rounds still scheduled and 333 points remaining across the rest of the season, a strong result at Misano could help him arrest the slide and put him back into contention.

Speaking ahead of the race, di Giannantonio said he is “really fired up for Misano!” He framed it as a must-win mindset for a home crowd, adding: “It’s our home race, and we have to push as hard as possible.” He also pointed to the motivation that comes from being surrounded by family and friends, saying that racing in front of the home audience “always gives you that extra motivation to do even better.”

Di Giannantonio believes VR46 can build on prior information from the circuit. “We arrive in Misano with some very good data from last year, when we were really strong,” he said. He also referenced how even a less straightforward weekend can still provide useful learning, adding: “That will certainly make our job easier, but the feedback we got from the Aragon weekend could also be useful, even though it wasn’t an easy one.”

His confidence is tied to preparation and execution rather than just the emotional factor. “We’re ready and can’t wait to race in front of our home crowd,” he concluded.

The Misano weekend also carries a sporting storyline for VR46 beyond di Giannantonio. Last year, he finished third in the Misano Sprint and then fifth in the grand prix, just behind teammate Franco Morbidelli. Morbidelli, in turn, will also be making his final VR46 and MotoGP appearance at Misano before moving to WorldSBK in 2027.

Morbidelli described Misano as special in its own right, saying: “Misano is always amazing, the atmosphere is magical and the home crowd is always special.” He set the tone for his final VR46 race with a focus on getting the most out of the weekend: “The goal will be to have a clean weekend. It will be important to get the most out of everything and do a great job because, together with Brazil, this is the most important race of the year for me.”

With both riders’ VR46 chapters nearing their ends, the team is preparing for a new era. VR46 will have an all-new rider line-up for 2027, with Fermin Aldeguer confirmed and Nicolo Bulega listed as TBC.

For di Giannantonio, though, Misano is the immediate priority: a home farewell that also represents a chance to change the trajectory of his season. While Marc Marquez has taken over as Ducati’s leading contender and di Giannantonio remains fourth, the combination of remaining points, recent momentum to regain, and the motivation of racing near Tavullia gives this weekend a heightened edge for the VR46 rider.