Leaving Phillip Island hurts. According to Motorsport.com Italia, Fabio Di Giannantonio of the VR46 Racing Team has admitted he is crying every day over the departure of the iconic circuit, which is set to leave the calendar next year to make way for Adelaide.
"I cry every day, this is the most beautiful track in the world, for me it was a blow to the heart," Di Giannantonio shared ahead of the weekend. He pointed to an interview with Stoner, noting, "He said that this is our Monte Carlo, iconic as Monte Carlo for F1, according to me this is our vista iconic for MotoGP, this would be not to touch, but for the moment it's no longer there, so it's a pity."
I want that, because I think it's really fair. Also because next year will not be just a change, will be a new class, so the experienced riders will not be experienced,
Beyond the emotional farewell, the weekend brings immediate sporting challenges, notably the weather. Forecasts point to rain on Sunday, raising the possibility of violent downpours that could force a schedule review. "Yes, it looks like Sunday will be quite a crazy day," Di Giannantonio said. "The good thing is that, knowing, maybe we can do something to avoid a sort of good day for all categories and review the program."
Looking further ahead, the rider addressed the ongoing discussions surrounding the scheduled trip to Qatar, noting that some teams have reorganized flights to avoid conflict areas. For his part, he places his trust in the series: "If we have a race in the calendar and MotoGP thinks of being safe to go, I want to go, sure."
Finally, the Italian faces a complex winter transition as he moves from the VR46 Racing Team to the factory KTM squad, leaving him without testing opportunities on next year's tires compared to riders remaining with their teams. With sweeping technical changes arriving—including a shift from 1000cc to 850cc engines, reduced aerodynamics, and the abolition of ride-height devices—he emphasized the need for a fair amount of preparation mileage for everyone for safety reasons. "I want that, because I think it's really fair. Also because next year will not be just a change, will be a new class, so the experienced riders will not be experienced," he stated.
