Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) returned to winning ways on Sunday, securing his first GP win since 2023 – and his first in VR46 colours. It concluded our Barcelona weekend at the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalunya, where Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) completed his injury comeback, returning to the podium. Meanwhile, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) claimed the final spot on the podium following post-race penalties. After all of that and more, catch up on the biggest talking points from Round 6.
"This win is for them and Vale"
Fabio Di Giannantonio stood on the top step of the podium on Sunday, clinching his first win since the 2023 Qatar GP. The Italian had a tough day, initially being involved in the Lap 12 incident on the first start before unlocking a new pace on the second restart. His official winning margin sat at 1.466s, collecting a further 25 points and reflecting on the day’s action – both from a competition and a human perspective.
Di Giannantonio: "It’s been a good day at the end, not for the performances but just knowing that everybody is more or less OK. That’s great news, I think, for our sport because we know that our sport is amazing. We gave a great show, but we are also humans. Seeing these things on track is not always good.
"We’ve been showing great speed all weekend long. I just made a mistake in quali, but apart from that, I think our speed was incredible. Once I started this race, I knew that I had a chance. I really wanted to not ruin it and use it. In the end, we go home with a great win. Our first win with the team together. I really want to dedicate it to them because they have done an amazing job getting us here. Also, to thank them for showing me love when everybody was giving back. I don’t forget that. For sure, this win is for them and Vale."
"I need more time"
Fermin Aldeguer’s remarkable 2026 story continued at the Catalan GP, claiming his first Sunday podium of the season. It was a difficult race for the Gresini Racing rider, who continues to find further steps on board the Ducati and get back to full fitness. Aldeguer also set out his targets for the upcoming races, looking to stay inside the top six after stating that he still needs "more confidence" in left corners.
Aldeguer: "To achieve this kind of result with other riders in the hospital is not nice, but we are professional riders. It was difficult to manage the mental side.
"If we look at ourselves, we have to be super happy because of the difficult start of the season with the injury. And the difficult start of the season with this bike. I need more time to understand how I can arrive at the top.
"I’m not sure that I have the potential to stay in the top three in all races. I need more time. I think we can stay in the top six. This is a clear goal for me. But we need more time to be closer to the official bikes. Also, I need more confidence in myself when I go into the left corners and in my physical condition."
"I don't feel like I deserve this third place"
It was an unexpected podium for Francesco Bagnaia, capitalising on Joan Mir’s (Honda HRC Castrol) tyre pressure penalty. Bagnaia ended Sunday with third after suffering mixed fortunes – including a crash at Turn 1 on the first restart. The Italian was able to return to action for the second restart, hitting his markers and showing positive signs as he ended Ducati Lenovo Team’s 10 GP run without a podium.
Bagnaia: "I just want to say thanks to the team for the job, the hard work they are doing. A third place, but I don't feel like I deserve this third place. For the Championship, it's good, and the team is deserving of it for the work they are always doing. I just want this kind of result to start to become normal. We just need to continue focusing and working like we are doing."
"The bike just stopped"
Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) enjoyed an incredible Saturday in Barcelona, taking pole position before narrowly missing out on Sprint glory by 0.041s. However, Sunday proved far more difficult as a technical issue on Lap 12 led to a collision with Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP). Acosta was able to use his spare bike on the restart before a final corner incident with Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) ended his race.
Acosta: "It looks like we had an electric problem in the middle of the first race, and the bike directly switched off, I would say. Because I was riding normally and from one moment to the other, I had no throttle, nothing. The bike just stopped. And that's it, this is what happened. I just want to send all the strength to Alex and to Johann because it looks like they took the worst part of what happened today."
"We have to accept the rules"
Joan Mir crossed the line in P2 in what was supposed to be the 2020 World Champion’s first Sunday podium since the Malaysian GP last year. However, the #36 received a post-race tyre pressure penalty – dropping him to P13. But there are still plenty of positives to take from his pace as he reacted to the penalty during Monday’s post-GP test.
Mir: "There’s not much that I can say. We have to accept the rules; it’s not often that there are six riders under investigation. Yesterday, all the restarts, with the quick start procedures, probably made the life of the engineers a little more difficult compared to normal. Finally, we received a penalty for nothing, and for what I believe is unfair because I didn’t gain any advantage in terms of performance, and the penalty is quite high."