Метка: Malaysian GP

“Even if it means losing the title, I’m not willing to race in Valencia”

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Double MotoGP world champion Francesco Bagnaia has said he will boycott the season finale if it goes ahead in flood-hit Valencia as planned.

The factory Ducati rider, who is currently trying to reel in Pramac Ducati’s Jorge Martin as he chases a third straight title, is one of several to have voiced ethical concerns about sticking to the planned Valencia venue given the current flooding and loss of life in the region.

Despite the concerns of these riders and others in the paddock at this weekend’s penultimate event in Malaysia, Autosport understands that staging the race in Valencia remains the priority for MotoGP organisers – even if this means postponing the date from the originally planned November 15-17 weekend.

Having already outlined his moral issue with a Valencia race in the pre-Malaysian Grand Prix press conference on Thursday, Bagnaia dropped the bombshell on the first day of track action at Sepang. 

Circuit Ricardo Tormo after flooding

Circuit Ricardo Tormo after flooding

Photo by: Paco Alcobendas

“Even at the cost of losing the ultimate goal for me, which is to win the title, I am not willing to race in Valencia,” said the Italian, who trails Martin by 17 points ahead of the Malaysian GP.

“I very much hope that they will take into consideration the fact that on an ethical level and with what is happening it is not the right thing to do.” 

While Martin has said it would be better to race elsewhere, he confirmed on Friday that he would take part in the race if it goes ahead in Valencia.

«It is a very delicate situation, both for us riders and for Dorna. It seems very difficult and hard to go to Valencia, for everyone. I [will follow] the decision of Dorna and the government. If in the end they decide to hold the race there, we will have to go.»

Bagnaia got his weekend in Malaysia off to a perfect start on Friday by going fastest in FP1 and then ensuring his passage into Q2 by topping the times in Practice.

Martin was second-fastest in the latter session after falling in an attempt to respond to Bagnaia’s late time.

The points leader’s best lap was however just 0.050s slower than that of the man pursuing him for the title.

“All year long we’ve been neck and neck with Jorge,” reflected Bagnaia. “We are used to these fights.”

Bagnaia was then asked if leading both sessions was intended as a psychological strategy.

“It’s difficult to go out looking to finish first in both sessions on Friday,” he said. “I’ve only done it before at Assen.

“Jorge ended up crashing, but I don’t think it was because of this. There is always a bit of pressure, it’s normal. But our goal is to win, not to intimidate anyone.”

Photos from Malaysian GP Practice

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Bagnaia edges out Martin in second practice

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Francesco Bagnaia continued his fine form on Friday by topping the second practice session at MotoGP’s Malaysian Grand Prix.

The factory Ducati rider scored a psychological victory over points leader Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati) by putting in a 1m57.679s lap at the end of the session, to which the Spaniard fell trying to respond.

Martin holds a 17-point lead in the championship, but Bagnaia’s Friday performance sets him up well to cut that gap over the weekend as he tries to snatch a third straight world championship. The Italian was quickest in both sessions on the opening day at Sepang, having also topped FP1 in the morning.

Martin led the way for much of the session and looked the favourite after setting the initial pace in the final push for times, but Bagnaia delivered when it really counted in the final minutes.

Despite his fall at Turn 1 immediately after Bagnaia had set his time, Martin ended up second-fastest, meaning both can safely focus on qualifying after booking their spots in Q2.

Bagnaia’s team-mate Enea Bastianini was third-fastest as the GP24s looked rapid at Sepang, while his rival for third place in the championship, Marc Marquez, only just snuck into Q2 with the 10th-fastest time.

Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales’s late effort was enough to put him fourth-fastest, with Gresini Ducati’s Alex Marquez fifth-quickest.

Yamaha was able to celebrate both its riders making it through to Q2, despite Fabio Quartararo having lost an engine in the morning. The 2021 world champion was sixth-fastest, with team-mate Alex Rins eighth.

Splitting the pair was Pramac Ducati’s Franco Morbidelli, whilst Jack Miller was sole KTM representative in the top 10 with ninth-fastest time.

The Austrian manufacturer’s rookie star Pedro Acosta will have to try to get into Q2 via the back door in Q1, as the Tech3 rider could only manage 11th-fastest behind Gresini’s Marc Marquez. Miller’s factory team-mate Brad Binder was always playing catch-up after a fall at the start of the session, and placed 14th.

Marco Bezzecchi was another to fall, dropping his VR46 at the final corner midway through the session. He wound up 12th-fastest for VR46, with Johann Zarco (LCR) the best of the Hondas in 13th.

Fabio di Giannantonio’s stand-in at VR46 Ducati, Andrea Iannone, was 1.939s off the ultimate pace in practice. He was ahead of only Miguel Oliveira’s substitute at Trackhouse Aprilia, Lorenzo Savadori in 21st place.

Photos from Malaysian GP Practice



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Bagnaia sets early pace with FP1 scorcher

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Francesco Bagnaia made an early statement in his bid to beat world championship leader Jorge Martin by setting the fastest lap time in Friday’s Free Practice 1 for the Malaysian Grand Prix.

In contrast to Pramac Ducati’s Martin, factory Ducati rider Bagnaia chose to run a soft front at the end of the session, a move that powered him to a time fully 1.647s better than Martin’s.

Maverick Vinales (Aprilia) and Marco Bezzecchi (VR46 Ducati) joined Bagnaia with late runs on soft rubber, and duly set laps good enough for second and third on the timesheets respectively. Vinales was however 0.743s in arrears of Bagnaia, with Bezzecchi over a second adrift.

Jack Miller (KTM) in fourth was quickest of the riders to take the more conventional approach to the session by simply running a medium front tyre throughout.

Tech 3 GasGas rider Pedro Acosta was fifth behind the Australian and the only rider to drop his bike during the session, with a very late crash at Turn 9.

Martin was third-quickest of the riders to stick with the mediums and thus sixth overall. The Spaniard, who leads the championship by 17 points over Bagnaia with one round to go after Malaysia, made one small mistake during the session as he outbraked himself and ran wide at the final corner.

Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati) was seventh-fastest, followed by Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo.

Quartararo led much of the session before the likes of Bagnaia pitted for soft rubber. The Frenchman’s bike broke down with a few minutes remaining in the session, although he was able to coast it back to the garage.

MotoGP returnee Andrea Iannone broke into the top 10 for VR46 Ducati, where he is replacing the injured Fabio di Giannantonio. This ninth-fastest time was also courtesy of a late lap on a soft front, however.

Only five riders in total pulled the soft-rubber move, with Trackhouse Aprilia’s Lorenzo Savadori the fifth and slowest of these in 18th.

Acosta’s team-mate Augusto Fernandez completed the top 10, almost two seconds down on the pace-setting Bagnaia.

Gresini’s Marc Marquez was 12th and Bagnaia’s factory Ducati team-mate Enea Bastianini ended FP1 14th. The pair are battling for third in the world championship.

Track action at Sepang started in slightly damp conditions after rain earlier in the morning, which led to an FP1 that was largely cautious and uneventful. It can also be regarded as inconclusive given the varying tyre strategies at play.

Photos from Malaysian GP Practice



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Ducati refuses team orders to help Bagnaia retain MotoGP title

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Factory Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi has insisted that Enea Bastianini will not be expected to help team-mate Francesco Bagnaia win the MotoGP riders’ championship over the final two weekends of the season.

While Bagnaia could certainly use support in his quest to overhaul a 17-point deficit to Pramac Ducati’s Jorge Martin, Bastianini is embroiled in a fight of his own for third place.

Italy’s Bastianini is currently fourth, 11 points behind Gresini Ducati’s Marc Marquez, as MotoGP prepares for this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix, the penultimate stop on the calendar.

“We haven’t spoken with Enea [about team orders],” said Tardozzi. “He is fighting with Marc for third place. There are no team orders and there is no discussion about this matter.

“So far each of them [Bagnaia and Bastianini] has been fighting for his own position in the championship – third is much better than fourth, obviously.»

Bastianini, who will move to KTM next season as Marquez takes over his ride at the Ducati factory team, added that he will ride for himself at Sepang and at the season finale.

“I’m competing freely,” said the British and Emilia Romagna Grand Prix winner. “I’ve also got something to contribute at the end of the season; I can bring that third place. I’m really close to it.

Enea Bastianini, Ducati Team, Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Enea Bastianini, Ducati Team, Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

“Both Marc and I have committed some mistakes in the last period, losing time and points. I need to close that small gap to try to be able to fight at Valencia.”

Bastianini arrives at Sepang with both circuit and current form. He won last year’s Malaysian Grand Prix at the Kuala Lumpur venue and also won the sprint race last weekend in Thailand.

Meanwhile, Pramac team manager Gino Borsoi has reiterated that he considers the fight between Martin on the independent Ducati and Bagnaia on the factory machine to be completely free of any favouritism by the Italian manufacturer.

Despite Pramac switching to Yamaha machinery next season and Martin moving to Aprilia, Borsoi gave the media nothing to work with when he was questioned about the subject at a press conference alongside Tardozzi on Thursday.

“Next year is another story,” replied Borsoi. “Next year is the future. As I’ve said several times, Ducati has never fought against us in terms of giving us all the tools and support.

“They are the only team in the paddock that gives us the tools and the chance to fight for the championship. So far no factory team [has given the same kind of] support as Ducati.

“I don’t want to say anything more. It’s clear they are really beside us and helping us.”

Borsoi’s comments were followed shortly after by a warm embrace with Tardozzi.

Pramac won the teams’ championship in 2023, but the factory team wrapped up the 2024 title last weekend in Thailand.

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Iannone’s MotoGP return a “reward” for what he missed during ban

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Ducati says Andrea Iannone’s comeback outing in this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix is a reward for what he missed in MotoGP during his four-year ban from competition.

The Borgo Panigale manufacturer wants Iannone to just have fun and not put any pressure on himself as he joins the VR46 team on a GP23 bike at Sepang, substituting for Fabio di Giannantonio at VR46.

Once it became clear that 26-year-old Di Giannantonio will be skipping the final two races of the year to undergo a surgery on the shoulder he broke in the Austrian Grand Prix, both Ducati and VR46 decided that the best alternative would be to replace him with Iannone in Malaysia.

The Italian has a long relationship with Ducati, having raced for the marque for four seasons between 2013-16 — including two years at the factory team alongside Andrea Dovizioso.

He was a part of Aprilia’s MotoGP programme in 2019 when he was tested positive for traces of Drostanolone, an anabolic steroid present on the list of prohibited substances of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

He was subsequently banned from active competition for four years and it was only at the beginning of 2024 that he could race competitively again, as he joined the World Superbike Championship with Go Eleven Ducati.

Andrea Iannone, Team VR46

Andrea Iannone, Team VR46

Photo by: Media VR46

Ducati bosses are aware that MotoGP has changed a lot since Iannone last raced in the premier class and want the one-time grand prix winner to not take things seriously as he teams up with Marco Bezzecchi at Valentino Rossi’s squad.

“What we ask of Andrea is that he has fun,” Ducati CEO Gigi Dall’Igna told Motorsport.com. “In terms of performance, we can’t ask anything of someone who hasn’t been on a grand prix bike for so long, with the tyres so different to what he knows, and without having done a test.

“This must be a reward for everything he hasn’t been able to do in the last few years.”

Mauro Grassilli, Ducati’s sporting director, added: “We believe he can put on a show.”

VR46 team manager Pablo Nieto echoed the comments of Ducati’s management, saying that the team can’t expect him to be on par with rivals due to a lack of experience on contemporary MotoGP machinery.

However, Nieto added that there are no doubts about just how talented the 35-year-old is, having scored five podiums and a victory in WSBK this year despite being on a satellite bike.

Andrea Iannone, Team Go Eleven

Andrea Iannone, Team Go Eleven

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

“What we hope is that Andrea enjoys it. At the same time, we know it will be complicated for him, because he hasn’t done any previous testing,” said Neito.

“We know that he has an incredible talent, he has already shown in the past that he is a very fast rider.”

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Although Di Giannantonio is due to miss the final two rounds of the season, the statement announcing Iannone’s return made it clear that he will be riding for VR46 at the Malaysia GP only.

Motorsport.com understands that Ducati’s test rider Michele Pirro will step in at VR46 at the final race of the season, the venue for which remains in doubt following severe flooding in Valencia.



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Martin “more mature” than in 2023 MotoGP title scrap

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World championship leader Jorge Martin says he is a less nervous and a more mature rider than he was at this stage of his 2023 points battle with Francesco Bagnaia.

Pramac Ducati’s Martin heads into this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix, the penultimate event of the season, with a lead of 17 points over factory Ducati rider Bagnaia. Last year he came into the penultimate round as the chaser, 14 points behind Bagnaia – and ultimately lost out at the final round.

Speaking ahead of the Sepang weekend, Martin claimed to be far more relaxed as the duo repeat their battle in 2024.

“Last season I was really tense and really nervous,” admitted the Spaniard. “I was really struggling with the situation and I felt a lot of pressure.

“This year, pressure is there but I think I’ve improved a lot. I’m much more mature now. I know I can lose it but I know I can win it. Last year I lost it and nothing happened to me – it’s not the end of the world!

“I try to learn from the pain and the bad moments. I think that’s where you learn more – losing can also be really exciting!”

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

For his part, Bagnaia said he would thrive on the pressure of chasing – and that he needs to cut Martin’s advantage to under 10 points heading into the final round.

“Pressure is always there but it’s nice to be in this situation,” remarked the reigning champion. “I love to be in this situation. It’s a critical situation for [the rider chasing]: you know you have to be fast because you cannot lose points. You have to be the faster one but you cannot make mistakes.

“I will try to win both races and close the gap. We have to try and gain more than the three points we gained in Thailand last weekend. We need to go away from this weekend with a gap of less than 10 points.”

The Italian pointed out that Martin would also face his own brand of pressure trying to guard a lead.

“We’re at a moment where I have to take a bit more risk than Jorge. He can be more calm. He doesn’t need to make mistakes because he can also finish second.

“But I was in Jorge’s situation last year and I know it’s a situation where you feel like you need to be more calm. Being competitive in this situation is not easy.»

Where exactly that final round will take place remains an open question given the doubts around the Valencia venue. The region is currently dealing with a major flood situation that has cost lives as well as heavily damaging at least one of the circuit access roads.

Martin and Bagnaia joined a number of riders to argue on Thursday that the finale should be moved elsewhere.

“Valencia will be difficult even if everything [around the circuit] is solved. It’s a difficult situation [in terms of] respect for the people over there. The best option would be to race elsewhere,» said Martin.

Asked which alternative venue would be ideal from his perspective, Martin joked: “For sure I wouldn’t want to go to Assen. Pecco is so strong there!”

Bagnaia underlined the ethical issue with racing in Valencia in somewhat stronger terms.

“For me, the ethical side is the most difficult thing. Racing there is like a party…it’s a moment to enjoy. But knowing that the situation is what it is, it’s not correct. It could be wrong to race there.

“If it were my choice, I would prefer not to race there. It’s not my decision, but we have many more options.”

Regarding alternative venues, Bagnaia said: “Assen could be good, but it’s too cold. Mugello, maybe!”

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Valencia MotoGP race should be cancelled on ethical grounds

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Spanish star Marc Marquez has led a call by MotoGP riders for the world championship finale not to be staged at Valencia amid the heavy flood damage to have hit the region.

The race is scheduled to be held in two weeks on 15-17 November at Circuit Ricardo Tormo. While the circuit itself is understood to have escaped major issues, there is heavy damage to at least one of the access roads.

Although repairing the local infrastructure is probably a viable option, the feeling in the paddock ahead of this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix is that the finale is in doubt. There is a question mark around the deployment of local emergency services, which may be required for ongoing relief efforts, as well as the moral aspect of racing so soon after a catastrophe that has resulted in many lives being lost.

While MotoGP released a statement on Wednesday saying it is «committed to holding the event on the scheduled date» and emphasised solidarity with the victims at this point, riders including Marquez offered clear positions during Thursday’s media interviews at Sepang.

“Ethically speaking, I don’t think the Valencia Grand Prix should be held,” Marquez stated. “Now [the organisers] have to meet and decide, but [if it were up to me] I would have already decided: there would have to be another race, one to close the championship, but somewhere else.

“The only idea that would make sense would be if all the proceeds [from the event] went to the families [affected]…looking at the pictures from here, if money can be raised to help the people affected, then that would be the only logical option.

“As a Spaniard it is very difficult to see these images. We know that the area around the circuit has been badly damaged, but it doesn’t make sense to spend money on repairing that. Resources should go to helping people.”

Circuit Ricardo Tormo after flooding

Circuit Ricardo Tormo after flooding

Photo by: Paco Alcobendas

Aprilia rider Aleix Espargaro added that he would only be comfortable racing in Valencia if the event served as a fundraiser for the relief effort.

“Right now I think going there to race is the less important thing,” said Spain’s Espargaro, for whom the Valencia finale is scheduled to be a farewell before he heads into retirement.

“It’s not about the facilities. I think the facilities can be repaired. But the hospitals and the emergency [personnel deployment] are more important than to go there and do a sporting show.

“I think if we are able to go there and race, then somehow we have to help.

“We can handle it in different ways. If we can give something back to Valencia, for example if we donate our prize money, I would do it 100%. Or [maybe] Dorna can find some [other] way to help them.  

“It’s a very difficult situation. Hopefully Dorna and the government in Spain will take the right decision.”

Espargaro’s team-mate Maverick Vinales did not go so far as to say the race should be cancelled, but echoed his countrymen as far as the moral aspect was concerned.

“We’re in Malaysia and we need to race, but our minds are in Valencia,” said Vinales. “Racing is an aside: we’re praying for everyone who lost their homes or people. Racing in Valencia is not a priority.”

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2024 MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix – How to watch, session times & more

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Victory in Thailand has brought Francesco Bagnaia within 17 points of Jorge Martin in the riders’ standings. However, the gap is still substantial, and Martin could theoretically wrap up the title this weekend in Malaysia.

Event Date

10:45  

FREE PRACTICE 1

PRACTICE

FREE PRACTICE 2

QUALIFYING 1

QUALIFYING 2

SPRINT

WARM UP

Race

2024 MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix session timings in different timezones

Session

GMT

CET

ET

PT

AEDT

JST

IST

FP1

02:45

03:45

22:45

19:45

13:45

11:45

08:15

FP2

07:00

 08:00

03:00

00:00

18:00

16:00

 12:30

FP3

02:10

 03:10

22:10

19:10

 13:10

11:10

 07:40

Qualifying

02:50

 03:50

22:50

19:50

13:50

11:50

 08:20

Sprint

07:00

 08:00

03:00

0-:00

18:00

16:00

12:30

Warm up

02:40

 03:40

22:40

 19:40

13:40

11:40

08:10

Race

07:00

08:00

02:00

 00:00

18:00

16:00

 12:30

2024 MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix session timings in local time

Friday 1st November 2024

  • Free Practice 1: 10:45 — 11:30 local time
  • Free Practice 2: 15:00 — 16:00 local time

Saturday 2nd November 2024

  • Free Practice 3: 10:10 — 10:40 local time
  • Qualifying: 10:50 — 11:30 local time
  • Sprint: 15:00 local time

Sunday 3rd November 2024

  • Warm up: 10:40 — 10:50 local time
  • Race: 15:00 local time

2024 MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix session timings in the UK and Portugal

Friday 1st November 2024

  • Free Practice 1: 02:45 — 03:30 GMT
  • Free Practice 2: 07:00 — 08:00 GMT

Saturday 2nd November 2024

  • Free Practice 3: 02:10 — 02:40 GMT
  • Qualifying: 02:50 — 03:30 GMT
  • Sprint: 07:00 GMT

Sunday 3rd November 2024

  • Warm up: 02:40 — 02:50 GMT
  • Race: 07:00 GMT

2024 MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix session timings in Europe 

Friday 1st November 2024

  • Free Practice 1: 03:45 — 04:30 CET
  • Free Practice 2: 08:00 — 09:00 CET

Saturday 2nd November 2024

  • Free Practice 3: 03:10 — 03:40 CET
  • Qualifying: 03:50 — 04:30 CET
  • Sprint: 08:00 CET

Sunday 3rd November 2024

  • Warm up: 03:40 — 03:50 CET
  • Race: 08:00 CET

2024 MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix session timings in the US (Eastern Time)

Thursday 31st October 2024

  • Free Practice 1:  22:45 — 23:30 ET

Friday 1st November 2024

  • Free Practice 2:  03:00 — 04:00 ET 
  • Free Practice 3: 22:10 — 22:40 ET 
  • Qualifying: 22:50 — 23:30 ET 

Saturday 2nd November 2024

  • Sprint: 03:00 ET 
  • Warm-up: 22:40 — 22:50 ET

Sunday 3rd November 2024

Please note daylight saving ends in the US on Sunday, with clocks moving back one hour at 2:00

2024 MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix session timings in the US (Pacific Time)

Thursday 31st October 2024

  • Free Practice 1:  19:45 — 20:30 PT

Friday 1st November 2024

  • Free Practice 2:  00:00 — 01:00 PT
  • Free Practice 3: 19:10 — 19:40 PT
  • Qualifying:  19:50 — 20:30 PT

Saturday 2nd November 2024

  • Sprint: 00:00 PT
  • Warm-up: 19:40 — 19:50 PT

Sunday 3rd November 2024

Please note daylight saving ends in the US on Sunday, with clocks moving back one hour at 2:00

2024 MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix session timings in Australia

Friday 1st November 2024

  • Free Practice 1: 13:45 — 14:30 AEDT
  • Free Practice 2: 18:00 — 19:00 AEDT

Saturday 2nd November 2024

  • Free Practice 3: 13:10 — 13:40 AEDT
  • Qualifying: 13:50 — 14:30 AEDT
  • Sprint: 18:00 AEDT

Sunday 3rd November 2024

  • Warm-up: 13:40 — 13:50 AEDT
  • Race: 18:00 AEDT

2024 MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix session timings in Japan

Friday 1st November 2024

  • Free Practice 1: 11:45 — 12:30 JST 
  • Free Practice 2: 16:00 — 17:00 JST 

Saturday 2nd November 2024

  • Free Practice 3: 11:10 — 11:40 JST 
  • Qualifying: 11:50 — 12:30 JST
  • Sprint: 16:00 JST

Sunday 3rd November 2024

  • Warm-up: 11:40 — 11:50 JST
  • Race: 16:00 JST

2024 MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix session timings in India

Friday 1st November 2024

  • Free Practice 1: 08:15 — 09:00 IST 
  • Free Practice 2: 12:30 — 13:30 IST

Saturday 2nd November 2024

  • Free Practice 3: 07:40 — 08:10 IST 
  • Qualifying: 08:20 — 09:00 IST
  • Sprint: 12:30 IST

Sunday 3rd November 2024

  • Warm-up: 08:10 — 08:20 IST
  • Race: 12:30 IST

Can’t find your country or region in the list? Check the MotoGP schedule page for the broadcast times in your local timezone.

Can I stream the Malaysian Grand Prix?

MotoGP has its own on-demand streaming service, offering live broadcast of practice, qualifying and the Sprint, as well as highlights. The MotoGP Video pass is available for an annual fee of 139.99 euros. Several local broadcasters also stream MotoGP races on their official websites



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Iannone set to replace di Giannantonio for MotoGP’s Malaysian GP

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Andrea Iannone will make a surprise MotoGP comeback replacing the injured Fabio di Giannantonio at the VR46 Ducati team for the penultimate grand prix of the 2024 season in Malaysia early next month.

As reported by GPOne, the one-time grand prix winner has received the nod from Valentino Rossi for Sepang, with the agreement of Ducati’s Gigi Dall’Igna. The Italian, who last raced in MotoGP in 2019 before a drugs ban, will head into the Malaysian round without any preparatory test.

GPOne also reported that Ducati test rider Michele Pirro will get the substitute role at the Valencia finale on 15-17 November.

Di Giannantonio announced on Thursday that he would skip the grands prix in Malaysia and Valencia in order to undergo surgery.  

This news puts paid to rumours that Ducati’s WorldSBK rider Nicolo Bugela or Ducati’s satellite SBK rider Danilo Petrucci would step into the breach at VR46. 

Iannone raced seven seasons in MotoGP, including four with Ducati between 2013 and 2016, taking his only victory at the Austrian Grand Prix in that final year. After leaving the Bologna factory he raced two years with Suzuki before signing for Aprilia in 2019.

Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team

Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

That season, at the Malaysian GP in fact, Iannone failed a doping test, which led to a four-year ban that could have spelt the end of his top-level motorcycle career. 

Having served the ban, however, he returned to WorldSBK this season with Ducati’s Go Eleven team. He took his first victory at Aragon a few weeks ago and has announced that he will remain for 2025.

The final round of the WorldSBK season takes place at Jerez this weekend. Iannone heads into the finale sitting seventh in the championship.

Di Giannantonio’s decision to undergo surgery two races before the end of the season allows the MotoGP race winner to have work done on the shoulder he injured in an accident at the Austrian GP in August. 

Missing the final two rounds means he should return to full fitness for the start of the 2025 season, where he will remain with VR46 but benefit from an upgrade and ride a factory GP25 Ducati.



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