VR46 MotoGP rider Fabio Di Giannantonio says the team has used the April break to focus on ways to improve braking and turning on the 2026 Ducati.
The Italian has made a strong start to the 2026 campaign, which includes a third-place finish at the Brazilian Grand Prix and runner-up spot in the Goiania sprint.
His Brazil result marks Ducati’s only Sunday podium so far this season, with Fabio Di Giannantonio its leading rider in the standings in fourth.
Ducati, for the most part, has been outclassed by Aprilia, with the latter winning all three grands prix and Marco Bezzecchi also leading every lap.
Many view this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez as the true start to the season, with Ducati expected to offer a stronger challenge to Aprilia.
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Looking ahead to the coming fourth round of the campaign, Di Giannantonio revealed what areas of the bike VR46 has been focusing on to improve when racing resumes.
“We’re back in Europe, off to Jerez,” he said in VR46’s preview of the Spanish Grand Prix.
“It’s a track we all know very well, and it will be very interesting to return to the Old Continent.
“People used to say that the world championship started in Europe, but for us, the season has already started very well.
“We’re riding strong, it’s a good moment both with the team and with the bike.
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“These past days at home at the factory, we’ve been working to find ways to better exploit the front end to stop the bike and take tighter lines, and have an even better package for the races.
“The goal is to continue having the same sensations as at the beginning of the season that allow me to go fast.”
Di Giannantonio hasn’t finished higher than fifth at the Spanish Grand Prix since his MotoGP debut in 2022, though did win the Moto2 race at Jerez in 2021.
He rode to fifth last year on the factory-spec GP25, as well as taking a sixth in the sprint, while he was seventh in 2024 and 12th in 2023.
Di Giannantonio currently leads reigning champion Marc Marquez in the championship by five points, with the pair battling hard in Brazil.
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They came together during the sprint in Austin, with Marquez handed a long lap penalty for causing a collision.
Di Giannantonio is 31 points shy of leader Marco Bezzecchi.
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