Di Giannantonio explains how Marc Marquez helped his growth as a rider at Brazil GP
Fabio Di Giannantonio and Marc Marquez delivered a showcase of intense, yet respectful racing at the Brazilian Grand Prix, and the Italian rider has opened up about what he gained from coming out on top against the seven-time MotoGP champion.
While Marco Bezzecchi pulled clear early on, much of the attention shifted to the battle behind, where Jorge Martin, Di Giannantonio, and Marquez were locked in a fierce contest for podium positions.
It was Martin and Di Giannantonio who held their ground until the chequered flag, while Marquez is still searching for his first Grand Prix podium of the 2026 season. The VR46 rider’s third-place finish also gave Ducati its first podium in a full-length race this year.
Few riders manage to beat Marquez in a direct fight, so Di Giannantonio’s achievement stood out even more after Marquez had taken him down to win during the previous day’s Sprint race.
Fabio Di Giannantonio explains what he learned about Marc Marquez during the Brazilian GP
After his P3 finish at the Brazilian Grand Prix, Di Giannantonio spoke with the media about his extended battle with Marquez and explained how the duel helped him study and learn more about the Spaniard’s strengths and weaknesses.
“Marc is very precise; he knows exactly when to use his energy and where. He manages his effort really well throughout the lap.
“He’s always pushing, but he has incredible control over the bike, especially during those slightly riskier manoeuvres he often pulls off, even when riding alone. “And then he’s definitely got something extra on the left-handers. I’m trying to work out how he does it, but it’s not easy. Let’s just say I’ve picked up a lot of ideas.”
Di Giannantonio also spoke about how much it meant to him to come out on top against a rider of Marquez’s calibre in a head-to-head contest.
“Yesterday he came out on top by winning the race, but today I did, by finishing on the podium,” Di Giannantonio said.
“Winning the race is much better! Still, I’m happy because battling it out with such a strong and experienced rider is a real challenge, and you learn a lot from it.”
Marc Marquez fumed after losing out to Fabio Di Giannantonio at the Brazilian GP
The Ducati factory team had another tough outing in Brazil and now sit fifth in the teams’ standings with 44 points. Meanwhile, Aprilia leads the way on 101 points, thanks largely to Bezzecchi’s back-to-back wins.
After crossing the line in Goiania, Marquez was reportedly furious. MotoGP pundit Neil Hodgson noted that he hasn’t often seen the 33-year-old react so strongly after a difficult race.
On the other side of the Ducati garage, Francesco Bagnaia endured another tough weekend. He was running outside the top 10 before crashing out of the Grand Prix, contributing just 10 points to Marquez’s 34 in the team standings.
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