Positive Grand Prix of Thailand for the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team, with Franco Morbidelli in P4 after a comeback and close to the podium. Fabio Di Giannantonio secures a P10 thanks to a heroic performance.
The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team ends the first race of 2025 with a lot of satisfaction, showing a great potential in the Grand Prix of Thailand. After a good comeback, Franco Morbidelli nearly achieves the podium and he’s fourth, while Fabio Di Giannantonio proves to be a great fighter and he’s tenth despite he’s not at his 100% physically.
Morbidelli, sixth in qualifying, started from the ninth place because of a 3-grid-place penalty received on Friday. A good start allowed him to be in the fight with the top guys right away. Franco was very close to the podium, showing a good pace and he ended his first race with the team in P4.
Di Giannantonio ended the season opener in P10, an incredible result in his first race weekend with his new bike, after the surgery and without any winter test. Even if his shoulder is not at the 100%, Fabio fought in a very demanding race physically and he gave the maximum securing a promising Top10 in Buriram.
The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team concludes with positive feelings the Thai GP, and with Franco in P4 and Fabio in P10 in the World standings. Next stop: Termas de Rio Hondo, where the MotoGP comes back in two weeks with the Argentina GP (14th-16th March).
FABIO DI GIANNATONIO
“I am very happy and proud of my team, my bike and me. I think we did something great, because I haven’t trained perfectly for six months. I came here with zero test, with a new bike and with a shoulder in pain. The potential was a bit higher, but in the second half of the race I was exhausted. I was riding trying to compensate with all the rest of my body, we did an amazing work. Now I come back home, and I focus on my recovery, then we will train. I’m working very hard because the goal is big. The potential of the bike is huge, and I can be in front if I’m at my 100%”.
FRANCO MORBIDELLI
“I am very happy with this race in Buriram, my first one with the team. We had two solid races, and the team did a great work. They convinced me to use the front soft tyre and it was the right choice. I couldn’t be happier with how the weekend went overall. We had a promising start, and we look forward to the next races, where we will give the maximum. We are strong, let’s see what we can do”.
PABLO NIETO
“It was positive to end in P5 yesterday and in P4 today with Franco. We worked really well during the winter. It’s a pity the podium was so close, and we didn’t reach it, but we have to keep working like this and we can improve race by race. Diggia’s performance was really good, he gained a Top10 after three months away from the track, with a new bike and after a surgery. I think we must be very satisfied because it was a very demanding race, and he wasn’t even at his 70%. Now it’s important to focus on the recovery during next week to arrive to Argentina in the best way possible. We look forward to coming back to Termas, where we have great memories with the team”.
