MotoGP: After collarbone surgery, Fabio Di Giannantonio sets a return date

Injured in Sepang last week, along with Jorge Martin and Raul Fernandez, Fabio Di Giannantonio was the last to give news of his operation. We now know that the operation went well. The Italian is aiming to return to action at the end of the month, for the first round of the 2025 season, in Thailand. 

If the absence of Fabio Di Giannantonio at the pre-season tests in Buriram (February 12 and 13) was expected, VR46 made it official this Monday morning. Having successfully undergone surgery on his left collarbone following a heavy fall on the first day of testing in Sepang, the number 49 will not rush things. "After a successful operation on his left collarbone, Fabio Di Giannantonio begins his rehabilitation. He is aiming for a return for the Thailand GP. We are waiting for you Fabio!"

Di Giannantonio therefore has just under two weeks to get up and running. The deadline for the season kick-off is set for the weekend of February 28 to March 02. However, he will take part in both races of the weekend without any experience on his new machine.

A compromised start to the season for Di Giannantonio?

This announcement, however, allows us to anticipate a significant handicap for the transalpine rider. Already absent from the Barcelona Test last November due to a shoulder operation, he has no experience riding Ducati's Desmosedici GP25.

While the data collected by Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia during the five days of pre-season testing will provide a good basis for the VR46 rider, the Thailand Grand Prix will represent his real first steps on his new machine. It is also important to remember that he had the 2023 machine last year, and therefore still has many secrets to uncover before being competitive.

Di Giannantonio thus finds himself in the same situation as Jorge Martin, although the reigning world champion has only just under a hundred laps on his Aprilia.