VR46's verdict on Di Giannantonio's costly celebration injury

VR46 team manager Pablo Nieto says his MotoGP rider Fabio Di Giannantonio's injury caused by exuberant celebrations shouldn't have happened - but can be understood.

Di Giannantonio was ruled out of the pre-season test at Sepang after just one day of riding due to a crash after the chequered flag that fractured his left collarbone.

It was suggested by eyewitnesses that it was an embarrassing and self-inflicted crash for Di Giannantonio - and that the culprit was his failed attempt to pop a wheelie.

And, speaking to The Race, Nieto - himself a grand prix veteran from the 125cc class - saw little reason to shy away from the details of the accident.

"In the end, we have to be realistic. And we have to say what happened. And this is the truth, no?," he said. 

"And the truth was that he was very happy, because he was without a bike for three months, he did a fantastic job yesterday - in the first part of the day, it was very hard because with a new bike [Ducati GP25] you have to try a lot of things, a lot of new parts, a lot of parts from Ducati... and then he made a very good laptime. 

"He was very happy, and when riders are happy they try to make a wheelie... and he made it in the wrong moment, between [Turns] 4 and 5, a little bit with angle, and the bike... you know... these things have to not happen, but I can understand because also I was a rider."

It was an immediate source of brutal disillusionment for team and rider on the heels of finishing the day a credible seventh-fastest, on what was - as Nieto mentioned - Di Giannantonio's return to MotoGP action from more than just an off-season break.

The Italian had had to curtail his 2024 campaign to undergo shoulder surgery specifically in order to begin 2025 - a pivotal year as he now has a works-spec Ducati and a Ducati factory contract - as close to full fitness as possible.

"It's true that it was very hard for us because we are coming from injuries three months ago, we didn't make the last three races [of 2024] to try to be 100% in the first race," Nieto said, before adding with a sigh: "And... now we are in this moment.

"But anyway I think we have to look forward, to try to... see the good things that we saw yesterday and try to be positive.

"Everything was very-very positive [until the crash]. Also the relationship with Ducati is incredible. I think we are making a very good job together.

"Everything is in a good way, so we have to be now calm."

Di Giannantonio is a certainty to miss the second pre-season test, too, but Nieto is at least hopeful of having him ready for the season opener.

"It's very important to tell him that the first race is going to be our winter test, that's very important that we understand that. And then try to come to the first race - sure it's not going to be 100%, but we have to try to arrive in the best moment."