The Lusail International Circuit delivered unexpected technical drama during the 2026 Qatar MotoGP Practice session. Amidst the intense world championship battle, Fabio di Giannantonio stole the spotlight by clocking the fastest time, edging out championship leader Marc Marquez by 0.142 seconds.
However, behind this impressive pace lies a concerning technical irony. Pertamina VR46 team boss Pablo Nieto revealed that Di Giannantonio's bike is suffering from a severe straight-line speed issue. Data suggests the Italian rider is losing around 10kph compared to other factory Ducati bikes, which is estimated to be equivalent to a 30-horsepower deficit.
"We are working a lot on that because 10kph in MotoGP is a lot," Nieto told the world feed. "We are talking about maybe, more or less, around 30 horsepower. So, it’s too much. We are working with Ducati, we know that Ducati is taking care a lot about that situation because it’s something strange. Maybe we are also looking at aerodynamics, the position of the rider – it can be a lot of things."
Lusail is known for its long main straight, making it a particularly punishing venue for a bike lacking top-end power. Nieto noted that the biggest problem arises when the rider hits fifth and sixth gear. Despite this, Di Giannantonio managed the rest of the track masterfully to secure the top spot.
For the team, this situation remains a mystery that needs urgent resolution. In this world, the math doesn't always add up, and this uncertainty makes Di Giannantonio's performance at Lusail one of the most compelling narratives of the weekend. Whether they can find a solution before qualifying remains the big question under the desert floodlights.
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Fabio di Giannantonio tops 2026 Qatar MotoGP practice. Catch up on Marc Marquez's title charge and the full results from the Lusail circuit at Sportrik.
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