Fabio di Giannantonio to Undergo Shoulder Surgery, Missing Final Rounds of 2024 MotoGP Season

Fabio di Giannantonio will be sidelined for the last two events of the 2024 MotoGP World Championship due to a surgery.

Fabio di Giannantonio is set to exit the 2024 MotoGP World Championship following the upcoming Thai Grand Prix next weekend, as he prepares for an operation on his left shoulder.

The VR46 competitor was contemplating undergoing surgery to address injuries stemming from a dislocation incident in Austria in mid-August, a procedure that could potentially conclude his season.

Nevertheless, following health assessments post the Motegi race, the Italian racer decided to continue the season by choosing to travel to Phillip Island for the upcoming weekend's race.

On Thursday, di Giannantonio and his crew declared that following the Buriram race, he will undergo surgery, consequently sitting out the upcoming Malaysian and Valencia races, along with the test session after the Valencia race.

"From our side, it's truly regrettable to share this update, acknowledging the immense dedication Fabio has shown in the recent months following his accident," expressed Alessio Salucci, the director of the VR46 team. "Despite the challenges, he consistently put forth his utmost effort."

The choice wasn't made randomly; he had the option to keep competing up until the Valencia race. However, doing so would have necessitated delaying his operation until late November.

Insufficient time would have hindered the process of enhancing his recovery and rehabilitation, undoubtedly impacting his physical readiness for the upcoming season's start.

"This choice was made in full agreement with Fabio, the entire medical team, Professor Castagna, and our collaborators who back us in this endeavor."

The scheduling of the operation strikes a balance between di Giannantonio's wish to participate in as many upcoming races as he can and the necessity to ensure he's in top condition for the beginning of 2025.

"Di Giannantonio expressed a desire to continue competing until the Valencia race, aiming to conclude the season on a high note with his team before dedicating the required time for surgery, recovery, and rehabilitation."

"Regrettably, the schedule is extremely challenging, with such a brief winter hiatus, making it imperative that we reach optimal physical fitness by the onset of 2025."

In collaboration with the team, our medical personnel, and Professor Castagna, we assessed the utmost boundary for moving forward with the shoulder surgery in the week following the Thai GP.

"After considerable reflection, due to the significance of fully committing myself until the final race as a gesture of gratitude for the immense faith placed in me throughout 2024, I am convinced that making this choice is crucial for my future."

di Giannantonio, who will continue with VR46 but will be upgraded to a factory-spec Ducati in 2025, is currently on equal points with his teammate Marco Bezzecchi, both holding the ninth position in the world championship.

VR46 informed Crash.net that the substitute for di Giannantonio in the Sepang and Valencia races is still pending confirmation and has not been finalized. While Ducati test pilot Michele Pirro stands out as the clear favorite for the role, there's speculation that an unexpected selection could be made.

For those curious, it seems that team proprietor Valentino Rossi has commitments in auto racing…

In the meantime, Diggia will focus on achieving full fitness for the first test of 2025 at Sepang in Malaysia, scheduled for February 5-7.

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