Fabio Di Giannantonio praised for victory following crash at Grand Prix Catalunya - 'He just looked so good'

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TNT Sports pundit Michael Laverty praised Fabio Di Giannantonio after winning Grand Prix Catalunya, shortly after a terrible crash involving Alex Marquez.

Highlights: Di Giannantonio wins Grand Prix Catalunya as Marquez suffers huge crash

Video credit: TNT Sports

Di Giannantonio won out after prising the lead from KTM rider Pedro Acosta following a second red-flag restart, with the final section of the race lasting 12 laps.

The VR46 rider won his first MotoGP since 2023, and extended his lead as the best performing Ducati rider of the season so far, as factory riders Marc Marquez - out after surgery - and Francesco Bagnaia have struggled.

Di Giannantonio is now 13 points behind Jorge Martin and 24 behind the Spaniard’s Aprilia team-mate, Marco Bezzecchi, in the race for the 2026 MotoGP world title.

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Martin crashed out, recovering to a ninth-placed finish, while Bezzecchi was 12th in a difficult weekend for the manufacturer’s factory outfit.

Discussing Di Giannantonio after the race took place, Laverty said: ”He said before the race that he felt he had the tools to do something.

”When the red flags happen, you've got to recompose yourself, choose a different tyre option setup for the 24 to 12 laps. He got a good start, looked so controlled, made those overtakes.

'We've got another crash' - Zarco and others crash at Grand Prix Catalunya

Video credit: TNT Sports

”Whenever he got in those positions you could see he had more [pace during] turning.

”Acosta, on his second bike, you could see he wasn’t as comfortable. He was a sitting duck at the end. It was a comfortable victory in the end.”

Di Giannantonio's victory was more impressive after he and his bike were struck by parts of Alex Marquez’s bike following a huge crash just in front of him.

He appeared to have injured his left arm, and did not remove his glove from his arm even when standing on the podium.

Laverty continued: ”Despite that hand injury, he was in discomfort, he did those overtakes, stopped cleanly and never moved past his apex.

”His move past Pecco [Bagnaia] he had grip, he had turning, and he wasted no time in the sector. He just looked so good there.”

'That crash was unbelievable' - Guintoli shocked

Alongside him, Sylvan Guintoli noted that the type of crash was a particularly difficult one for riders to go through.

Because of the speed and force of Marquez’s crash, his bike hit the tarmac several times and threw off parts of the chassis as well as the wheel.

Guintoli explained: ”That crash was unbelievable, and when you've got flying parts like this, going back onto the track is so dangerous.

”Diggi unfortunately got caught out and part of the wheel hit his bike. He crashed out, looked like he has hurt his hand on the left side”

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