Marquez vs. Di Giannantonio: A High-Stakes Duel at Mandalika Grand Prix Leaves One Rider on the Sidelines

Marc Marquez Claims Fabio di Giannantonio Overreacted During Mandalika Confrontation

Di Giannantonio Maintains "I had a higher speed…"

Fabio Di Giannantonio expressed disappointment over his intense duel with Marc Marquez during the MotoGP Indonesian Grand Prix, stating it was "unfortunate" because their excessive battling negatively impacted the VR46 rider's performance in the race.

Throughout the initial half of the 27-lap race at Mandalika, Marquez and Di Giannantonio engaged in a fierce battle for the seventh position, with Di Giannantonio ultimately securing the lead.

Di Giannantonio, the sole racer to opt for the soft rear tire, met with an accident in lap nine after the front of his GP23 gave way at Turn 10.

During Sunday's grand prix, Di Giannantonio found their clash to be among the highlights, yet he believed it excessively hindered him.

"Di Giannantonio mentioned that based on the substantial amount of information and data provided by the engineers, and considering the minimal wear experienced during the sprint the previous day, he made the choice to opt for the soft rear tyre."

"Thus, we agreed, 'alright, we're capable, possibly by easing up on the accelerator and by adopting a less aggressive speed, we then believe we can complete the race'."

"Additionally, I found myself needing to regain numerous positions early on, as that's the period when there's significant reliance on the soft tyre."

"We succeeded, although it's regrettable that we wasted considerable time initially with Marc, as I was significantly quicker."

"Indeed, in my opinion, we competed intensely more than necessary. After I managed to pass him for good, I was quick, I was clocking a rapid lap time, but then, unexpectedly, and for reasons we still can't quite grasp, I lost control of the front at Turn 10."

"Definitely, the braking was forceful, but it wasn't anything extraordinary."

"Regrettably, we ended up crashing, but I believe it's important to stay positive. Throughout the weekend, our speed was impressive, and we put on a great performance during the race, so there's reason to feel content."

Marquez conveyed to the press, Crash.net among them, his belief that Di Giannantonio somewhat overplayed their on-track skirmish, yet he dismissed it as part of the sport.

Di Giannantonio managed to secure a point on the VR46 Ducati during the sprint by opting for a soft rear tyre and, after dedicating 90 minutes to examining data on Sunday morning, he was confident he could maintain this performance over the full grand prix distance.

"Definitely, we possessed the information up to the 15th lap since the race comprised 13 laps," he further stated.

"Despite conserving the tire over these 15 laps, the race boiled down to merely enduring."

"However, I believe it was achievable because I maintained an incredibly steady hand on the throttle."

"Additionally, prior to the race, I dedicated ninety minutes to analyzing the data to determine how to maintain the rear tyre's temperature. Therefore, I believe we were in a strong position to perform well in the race."

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