The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team ends the Portimao weekend with a Top10 finish thanks to Fabio Di Giannantonio, who took eighth place in Sunday’s race. Franco Morbidelli crashed out.
Sunday of the Portuguese Grand Prix proved to be challenging for the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team. Fabio Di Giannantonio crossed the line in eighth position after recovering from a difficult start. It was an unlucky race for Franco Morbidelli, who crashed on the opening lap.
Di Giannantonio had a tricky start from the third row, losing several positions in the early corners. However, lap after lap, Fabio showed a strong pace that allowed him to climb back into the Top10. The #49 rider finished eighth and now is sixth in the World Standings with 239 points.
It was a tough Sunday for Morbidelli, who crashed at Turn 5 on the opening lap. Forced to retire from the Portuguese Grand Prix early, Franco underwent an initial medical examination at the circuit’s medical centre, where tests showed no injuries. For further precautionary checks, he was later transferred to Alvor Hospital, where medical assessments confirmed the earlier results and Franco is in good condition. The #21 rider is currently seventh in the World Standings with 227 points.
The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team will be back on track next weekend for the Gran Premio de la Comunitat Valenciana, the final round of the 2025 MotoGP season, scheduled at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo from November 14th to 16th.
FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO
“The race was complicated right from the start: unfortunately, we got stuck in traffic in the first corners, so I had to recover some positions. We made a lot of overtakes and a good comeback, our pace was strong. But we finished eighth, and I’m not happy with the result. The positive thing is that the pace was there, and the feeling was good. With a better qualifying, we had the pace to be in the Top5 today, so it’s something we need to improve. We’re working on it and will keep doing so for the end of the season.”
PABLO NIETO - Team Manager
“It was a complicated weekend. Yesterday, Diggia had a great Sprint – finishing in the Top5 from the third row is an excellent result. It’s a pity that today’s race start wasn’t good, but he made a strong comeback with a great pace. We need to work on having a better qualifying session to start further up the grid and be fast in the opening laps of the race. Unfortunately, Franco’s weekend wasn’t easy, as he couldn’t find the right feeling. Today he crashed during the race, but, luckily, the doctors confirmed that there are no injuries. This is the most important thing.”
