Di Giannantonio 'dreaming' about first MotoGP race; 'there will be Goosebumps'

Gresini Racing Ducati rider Fabio Di Giannantonio says 'there will be Goosebumps' during next month’s MotoGP season opener in Qatar. 

The Italian, who will compete in his first ever MotoGP race on March 6th, completed last weekend’s Mandalika test as the second fastest rookie (P18) - +0.014s behind fellow Ducati rider Marco Bezzecchi. 

Despite missing two days of action during the Sepang Shakedown test due illness, Di Giannantonio feels it’s been a ‘positive’ pre-season on the whole after beginning to understand last season’s Desmosedici GP21. 

Speaking after day three in Mandalika, the former Moto2 rider said: "Well, I can say that it has been a positive pre-season for us. I improved a lot on the bike and my riding style has improved a lot during the tests. 

"Especially about today (Sunday), I'm really happy because we did a race simulation, not full race distance, but a race simulation and I was quite constant. 

"I could understand a lot of things to put the bike in a better way, let’s say. I’m super happy about my first pre-season in MotoGP."

With pre-season testing officially over, Di Giannantonio’s next MotoGP appearance will come during FP1 in Losail, Qatar. 

Describing his emotions ahead of his official debut, Di Giannantonio said he’s already ‘dreaming’ about the first race, a round which will also see Bezzecchi, Raul Fernandez, Remy Gardner and Darryn Binder all make their official debuts too.

"For sure there will be Goosebumps. It will be so exciting for me as it’s my first race in MotoGP," said the 23 year-old. 

"Qatar is always special as it’s the first race of the year and it’s a special race under the lights, every colour becomes fluo, so it’s nice and I can dream about it."