Fabio Di Giannantonio's Austrian Grand Prix ended in ninth place, but the headline was not the result itself. The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team rider revealed that brake issues plagued his weekend at the Red Bull Ring, a problem that also affected several other Ducati riders. It was a stark contrast to Ducati's usual dominance at the Spielberg circuit, where KTM's Pedro Acosta took victory and Aprilia showed strong pace.
Di Giannantonio described a weekend of struggle that has become a recurring theme. “It was a complicated weekend, but that's been the case for two or three Grands Prix now,” he said. “We need to improve as a team, stay together, and work hard. We must return to the way of thinking and planning weekends like we did at the start of the season.”
External Setbacks and Wrong Direction
The Italian also pointed to circumstances beyond the team's control. “We've had some setbacks, like having only one bike available. When things like that happen, everything seems negative, but the reality is we're also struggling due to things outside our control.”
At the Red Bull Ring, the team initially chose a technical path that proved incorrect. “This weekend we went in a direction that wasn't right. We tried to recover this morning, but in MotoGP you're already behind. You can still have a decent race, but you can't fight for something big.”
Brake Problems: A Familiar Foe
The brake issues were a particular concern. Ducati Desmosedici GP's braking system exhibited strange behavior: sometimes requiring a hard squeeze without proper stopping power, other times the lever would go straight to the handlebar. “I've been with Ducati for five years and these things can happen. It's nothing new. We've always had small problems and they can have various causes,” Di Giannantonio explained.
He was relieved that the issue did not strike during the Sprint or Grand Prix. “I struggled with the brakes all weekend, though fortunately it was fine in both races. I also had it in Misano. Unfortunately, it happens sometimes, but luckily today it didn't happen in the race.”
Earlier, Marc Marquez, Alex Marquez, and Fermin Aldeguer had also reported brake problems in Austria. Franco Morbidelli was believed to have suffered similar issues. This raises questions about whether there is a systemic issue with the Ducati package at circuits with heavy braking like the Red Bull Ring.
Road to Recovery
For Di Giannantonio, ninth place is not a disaster, but it serves as a reminder that the team must quickly rediscover its best form. He stressed the importance of unity and hard work to turn things around. “We must keep improving, we can't keep blaming circumstances. But clearly, we need real solutions,” he concluded.
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