Is this MotoGP rider the favourite for Australian GP victory?

VR46’s Fabio di Giannantonio is faster than Aprilia on long run pace and could be the favourite for victory in the Australian Grand Prix, believes fellow Ducati rider Alex Marquez.

After two uneventful weekends in Japan and Indonesia, di Giannantonio returned to the sharp end of the pack at Phillip Island on Friday, ending up as the top non-Aprilia rider in third place.

While he faced a mounting 0.420s deficit to Marco Bezzecchi, who topped the session with a new lap record, di Giannantonio’s pace in race simulations caught the eye of others.

British GP winner Bezzecchi also has to serve a double long lap penalty for causing a collision with Marc Marquez in the Indonesian GP, with Aprilia estimating that he would lose as much as five seconds in taking the longer loop at Turn 4.

The Noale marque’s race manager Paolo Bonora has already conceded that Bezzecchi’s chances of staging a comeback win are low, while its second factory rider Jorge Martin continues to remain out of action due to injury.

Raul Fernandez did finish second behind Bezzecchi in practice, but Aprilia Racing boss Massimo Rivola was already disappointed that the Spaniard could not convert his front row start into a podium in Indonesia.

Given Aprilia’s compromised position, di Giannantonio might be in for his second grand prix win after his inaugural triumph in Qatar in 2023.

“Honestly speaking, on the rhythm, Diggia was a little bit faster than Bezzecchi and everyone else,” said Gresini rider Marquez, who finished two spots behind in fifth.

“It's true that on the time attack, Bezzecchi and also Raul [Fernandez], they are super fast. Aprilia is super fast on that first corner, especially in the second. Indonesia and here is one of these tracks.

“He was also super fast on the path with Ducati, so I think it's the perfect mix from the rider and from the bike for this track."

Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images

Marc Marquez’s withdrawal from Australian GP has thrown the race wide open, with di Giannantonio among those expected to benefit from his absence.

With Francesco Bagnaia still struggling on the GP25 and Marquez’s replacement Michele Pirro making his first race appearance of 2025, di Giannantonio is best placed of the three riders on Ducati’s latest prototype. 

Di Giannantonio shrugged off the favourite tag, but admitted he was quick and feeling confident with the bike.

“This morning, [Marquez] was better than everybody. So, I don't know. For sure, I improved from this morning, but I don't know if I'm the best. I'm just trying to be the best Diggia. For sure I was fast today.”

He added: “We are working and just trying to bring the best package possible. And this time, with the parts that we brought here, the bike is just working really well. 

“And my feeling with the front is really good. So, I can really feel the limit of the front. So, at the moment, it's working really good. And that's the reason why I go faster." 

Di Giannantonio also derives encouragement from his long-run pace in practice, but believes he and Bezzecchi are neck-to-neck at the moment.

"Well, Aprilia is going in a great way, actually. Bezz is going super fast,” he said. “[In terms of] race pace, I think we are quite similar. But on time attack, he made the difference. 

“So, we need to study a little bit and work, try to recover. Because, for tomorrow, if we want to fight for the pole position, for sure we need some changes to improve and go down half a second.”