Fabio Di Giannantonio has provided a health update after his shoulder surgery which caused him to miss the final two races of the MotoGP season.
The Italian ended his 2024 season after the Thai Grand Prix in October after he dislocated his shoulder earlier in the year at the Austrian Grand Prix in August.
Despite not riding, the Italian was present at the end-of-season Barcelona test to provide an update on his situation heading into the 2025 season.
Di Giannantonio underwent a successful operation on the 2nd of November but confirmed he will not be at full fitness by the time the February Sepang test comes around.
“I’m good. These days I’m much, much better compared to last week,” he said to the media.
“I made the surgery on the Saturday of Malaysia. So, the first few days were tough, it was impossible to sleep and the pain was [a lot].
“But now I’m really good. Also, the medical staff are impressed with all the improvements I’m making day by day.
“So, that’s really good. After next week I will start to work also a little bit in the pool.
“In two weeks I will remove this [sling], so I can start to make the rehabilitation in an active way, moving the shoulder by myself.
“So, I’m completing the process. It’s a long process, a long winter, but I’m good at the moment.
“I think we’ve done it in the right timing, because even if I’m recovering a bit faster I will have the right time to train and be ready for next season, because the plan at the moment is for sure to make the first official test in Sepang.
“But I will not be 100% physically, because if you see me naked at the moment, for sure it will not be a big show – you will see I’ve lost a lot of muscles.
“So, to rebuild those muscles, to rebuild that energy, that stamina will take a long time. So, I think we’ve done everything in the right time.”
Fabio Di Giannantonio has a lot to look forward to in 2025
The VR46 Ducati rider was presented with a lifeline after losing his seat at Gresini at the end of the 2023 season.
Di Giannantonio impressed throughout the season, and as his team-mate Marco Bezzecchi signed for Aprilia, he was awarded a fresh two-year contract extension and a factory spec bike for 2025.
After he shared with the media his health update, he said he was observing testing with a focus on Ducati’s test rider Michele Pirro.
The Italian replaced Di Giannantonio in his absence and tried to accumulate as much data as possible on the GP25 and its characteristics.
The Roma-born rider indicated he didn’t want to know Pirro’s “feelings” on the bike but was informed of the specific parts implemented.
“Let’s say that with Michele we didn’t speak that much at this moment of the day, because he’s working,” he added.
“Also, the team and Ducati don’t want me to know too much the feelings from the new bike to not have [expectations] when I’m back on the bike, so to have a clear head when I try the bike.
“But also for sure I know what they are trying, where they are working and where the new bike will be. But I don’t want to know the feelings. So, we are speaking but in a distant way.”
