Italian MotoGP rider Fabio Di Giannantonio will be sidelined for the final two races of the season as he undergoes surgery on his left shoulder. The Ducati-VR46 rider, currently 10th in the championship standings, dislocated his shoulder during a high-speed crash at the Austrian Grand Prix back in August.
Despite the injury, Di Giannantonio has persevered, continuing to race through the pain. He will be competing in this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix and the following Thai Grand Prix before heading back to Italy for the operation. The surgery will effectively rule him out of the season-ending races in Malaysia and Valencia.
In a statement released by the team, Di Giannantonio expressed his disappointment at missing the final races. “I would have liked to race till Valencia, close the season in the best possible way with the team and then take all the time necessary to deal with the surgery, recovery, and rehabilitation,” he stated. However, the packed racing schedule and the short winter break leave little time for a proper recovery. “We cannot risk not arriving at the peak of physical condition at the start of 2025,” he added.
Di Giannantonio’s absence will be a significant loss for the Ducati-VR46 team. The Italian rider has had a strong season, including a podium finish in Australia last year and his maiden MotoGP victory in Qatar. His focus now shifts to a full recovery, aiming to return with renewed strength and determination for the 2025 season.