Fabio di Giannantonio, a well-known MotoGP rider from the VR46 team, recently made a tough decision to retire from the Thailand Grand Prix sprint race due to a bike fire incident. This unexpected turn of events occurred as di Giannantonio was on the verge of breaking into the top 10 during the half-distance race at Buriram. However, his race took a drastic turn when he veered off course at Turn 5 with only a few laps remaining, causing him to lose positions rapidly.
As di Giannantonio’s performance began to suffer, he made the difficult choice to pull into the pits on lap 11 of the 13-lap race, joining Jack Miller as one of the two riders who did not complete the opening contest of the 2025 MotoGP season. Following the race, di Giannantonio opened up about the harrowing experience he faced on the track. He revealed that his Ducati bike was overheating to such an extent that he sustained multiple burns on his body, making it impossible for him to continue the race.
In his own words, di Giannantonio described the intense situation, stating, “What happened is that the bike was burning completely, completely burning. I got burns on the hands, on the legs, on the neck. [It was] completely burning, like never before.” Despite the Ducati bike’s reputation for reliability, di Giannantonio found himself in a uniquely challenging position, with the excessive heat causing him significant discomfort and physical harm.
The Italian rider elaborated on the extent of his struggles, explaining, “On the straights [my feet] were not on the fairing. I was [riding] with legs open, arms open. When I was braking I was putting away both my feet. I was just removing every [body part] from the bike, it was completely burning.” This vivid account of his race-day ordeal sheds light on the intense conditions he faced and the lengths he went to in order to cope with the extreme heat radiating from his malfunctioning bike.
Despite his determination to push through the adversity, di Giannantonio ultimately reached a breaking point and decided to cut his race short. He recounted the moment he realized he could no longer continue, stating, “It was too much. I wanted to continue. But before the last corner I got almost on the right side [of the track]. So I said ‘okay, I’m out of the points, the bike is burning, I’m racing a lot, the shoulder is feeling, so that’s it, I can’t anymore – let’s save some laps for tomorrow’s race’.”
Facing a setback in the race due to unforeseen technical difficulties, di Giannantonio remains optimistic about his team’s ability to address the issue before the upcoming grand prix event. Expressing confidence in VR46’s capabilities, he emphasized the importance of finding solutions to prevent a recurrence of the bike fire incident. Despite the disappointment of missing out on a strong performance, di Giannantonio remains hopeful that the team will overcome this challenge and bounce back stronger in the races to come.
As di Giannantonio navigates the physical and mental toll of the recent race, he continues to push forward despite facing setbacks, both on and off the track. His resilience and determination to overcome obstacles highlight the unwavering spirit of a MotoGP athlete dedicated to pushing boundaries and striving for excellence. The road to recovery may be long and arduous, but di Gi Giannantonio’s unwavering commitment to his sport and his team serves as a testament to his passion for motorcycle racing and his relentless pursuit of success.
