Fabio Di Giannantonio Reveals Sachsenring Overtaking Nightmare

Fabio Di Giannantonio described following another rider at the Sachsenring as a nightmare after he was unable to pass Alex Marquez or challenge Marc Marquez in the 2026 German MotoGP Sprint.

The VR46 Ducati rider finished third, matching his starting position. He briefly lost the place to Ai Ogura on the opening lap before reclaiming third at the end of the first tour.

Di Giannantonio believed he had enough pace to beat Alex Marquez and close on Marc Marquez. However, the front-tyre temperature rose sharply when he followed another motorcycle, making it difficult to maintain speed and prepare an overtaking move.

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“This track is really difficult to overtake on. Once you are behind another rider, the front tyre gets hot, and with all the corners and lean angle it becomes very difficult to keep the pace and then attempt a pass,” Di Giannantonio said.

He created a small gap during the middle of the race in an attempt to cool the front tyre. The strategy allowed him to maintain his rhythm more safely, but it was not enough to make an attack on Alex without accepting excessive risk.

The problem was complicated by the trade-off between the two tyres. Using alternative lines to protect the rear placed more stress on the front, while following a rider who spent much of the lap on the edge of the tyre caused the front of the motorcycle to move continuously.

Di Giannantonio also believed Marc was not using his full pace because he was able to control the race from the front. By contrast, the chasing riders required clean air to cool the tyre and sustain their speed, something that was difficult to obtain in the leading group.

Third place reduced Di Giannantonio’s deficit to the championship lead to 13 points. His next priority is improving front-tyre management so he can attack more effectively in the German MotoGP grand prix.