virage du raccordement

With his ability to do magic on the GP23 after only a couple of rounds getting used to the machine, Marc Marquez is definitely eclipsing everybody else on the grid, unless you’re named Pecco Bagnaia or Jorge Martin.

Nevertheless, there is another Ducati GP23 rider who has been improving since the beginning of the season and who is also getting a grip on the GP23. Let’s take a look at Fabio Di Giannantonio’s stats after 7 rounds in the 2024 season.

qualifying

Round n°	GP	Q1/Q2	Position
1	Qatar	directly in Q2	P7
2	Portugal	stayed in Q1	P14
3	USA	directly in Q2	P8
4	Spain	directly in Q2	P5
5	France	directly in Q2	P4
6	Catalunya	survived Q1	P6
7	Italy	stayed in Q1	P14

Fabio has qualified directly to Q2 4 times. Of the 3 times he went to Q1, he only survived once (Barcelona).

He has an average qualifying position of 8.3. It places him 8th amongst all riders and 4th amongst satellites riders (Jorge Martin is 1st with a 3.1 average, Pedro Acosta is 5th with a 6.6 average and Marc Marquez is 6th with a 7.0 average). The next GP23 rider is Marco Bezzecchi in 9th with a 10.0 average (also directly went to Q2 4 times, never survived Q1).

His best qualifying result is a P4 (achieved in Le Mans) and he’s been in the top 8 5 times out of 7. His worst result is the one he achieved the two times he didn’t reach Q1: P14 (Portimao and Mugello).

races results

Round n°	GP	sprint result	race result
1	Qatar	DNF	P7
2	Portugal	DNF	P10
3	USA	DNF	P6
4	Spain	P13	P7
5	France	P7	P6
6	Catalunya	P6	P5
7	Italy	P7	P7

After a rough start of the season and 3 DNFs in 3 sprints, Fabio has finished every sprint since then. He also has seen the checkered flag every Sunday so far, always in the points.

Besides the DNFs, his worst results are a P10 in the Portimao race (round 2) and a P13 in the Jerez sprint (round 4). He hasn’t left the top 7 since Sunday in Jerez (for a total of 9 top 7 placements in 7 rounds). His highest result is a P5 during the Barcelona race.

overall standings

Fabio stands P9 in the overall standings with 74 points.

He is the 4th satellite rider (Jorge Martin is P1 with 171 points, Marc Marquez is P3 with 136 points, Pedro Acosta is P5 with 101 points). The next satellite rider, who also happens to be on a GP23, is Alex Marquez in P10 with 51 points.

Overall, in a smaller window of time, his beginning of the 2024 season almost reminds me of Fabio’s 2023 season which started poorly and then blossomed results wise towards the end with a first MotoGP podium in Phillip Island and a first MotoGP win in Qatar. Qualifying wise, he never went to Q2 in the first 10 rounds of 2023 but in the last 10 rounds he only missed on Q2 three times (6 direct qualifications, one time surviving Q1).

In the midst of silly season going stronger than ever, I think it’s worth wondering where results like these could land him next year.