Fabio Di Giannantonio fought again tears as he expressed his gratitude to Valentino Rossi’s VR46 workforce forward of his transfer to manufacturing facility KTM MotoGP in 2027.
Fabio Di Giannantonio, 2026 Catalunya MotoGP.
© Gold & Goose
Following the official affirmation of Fabio Di Giannantonio’s manufacturing facility KTM contract for 2027, VR46 has launched an emotional video of the Italian bidding farewell to the workforce.
Like lots of the rider transfers for subsequent season, Di Giannantonio’s switch was an open secret for a number of months, with a farewell video launched on September 5, 2026.
Di Giannantonio was on the verge of dropping his MotoGP seat after dropping the Gresini using privilege to Marc Marquez in 2024.
Nonetheless, a improbable finish to the season, which included his first win in Qatar, noticed the Italian develop into the primary rider exterior the VR46 Academy to be accepted into Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP workforce.
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46.
© Gold & Goose
Having continued to maneuver up the rider rankings since then, DiGia is at present in third place general and is Ducati’s high rider within the World Championship.
Di Giannantonio additionally broke his hunch with a win in VR46 in Catalunya regardless of a hand harm, and afterward Valentino Rossi mentioned with a smile: “Are you certain you wish to give up?” whereas congratulating the Italians.
Di Giannantonio, who has acquired manufacturing facility help from Ducati for the reason that starting of final season, will be a part of Alex Marquez at KTM for the brand new period of 850cc/Pirelli, taking his first step into a proper MotoGP workforce.
Watch Di Giannantonio’s farewell speech to VR46 under.
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“I truly thought it will be simpler,” Di Giannantonio mentioned earlier than his feelings bought the higher of him.
After being hugged by VR46 workforce director Alessio Salucci, DiGia fought again tears and continued:
“You have been an ideal workforce.
“You guys are a loopy workforce.
“I’ve by no means felt so good with a workforce.
“You may have given me all the pieces. Every little thing I’m now. All the attractive issues which are occurring to me are due to you.
“I wasn’t this individual, I wasn’t this man, I wasn’t this rider. And that is actually all because of you guys.”
Valentino Rossi congratulated Fabio Di Giannantonio on his victory in Catalonia.
© Gold & Goose
After a spherical of applause, he added:
“It has been a loopy three years. I am going to all the time have you ever in my coronary heart as a result of I will step up and it is actually due to you.”
VR46 shall be rolling out a very new rider lineup subsequent season, with Fermin Aldeguer becoming a member of from Gresini alongside World SBK title chief Nicolo Brega.
In the meantime, Di Giannantonio’s present teammate Franco Morbidelli can also be one in all a number of Grand Prix winners whose MotoGP future stays unsure amid an inflow of rookies getting ready to affix the grid.
