Shock waves are running through the MotoGP paddock as a dramatic rule change just days before the Dutch Grand Prix has left riders questioning their safety. Fabio Di Gianntonio, never one to mince words, expressed serious concerns about the new starting system, warning that it could create chaos with racers careening into the first corner.
MotoGP’s governing body has outlawed the use of front holeshot devices from this weekend’s action at Assen, a seismic shift in the process that has thrown the grid into uncertainty. These devices, which have been standard since 2019, help keep the front suspension off the line, giving riders more control and reducing the risk of dangerous wheelies. Now, with the ban coming into effect, Di Giannantonio and his rivals must approach a turn with raw suspension travel and a whole new set of risks. Objective? To make braking more natural and, theoretically, safer when riders dive into that crucial initial turn. But as Di Giannantonio explained, the results could be anything but predictable.
This is not just a technological change; This is a fundamental change that could reshape the art of starting races in MotoGP. For years, holeshot devices have been the secret weapon, allowing riders to put every ounce of horsepower to the ground and rocket off the grid with surgical precision. Eliminating these systems is meant to curb first corner pileups by restoring the feeling of “natural” braking, but it also increases front-end instability and the fear of uncontrolled wheelies at the worst times. Fans and teams alike are worried, wondering whether the new protocol will deliver on its promise – or lead to unintended carnage.
Di Giannantonio, who performed disappointingly after practice in Assen, did not hide his emotions. “Well, I tried it today and it wasn’t that bad, let’s say,” he reflected, describing his first experience starting out without the now-banned device. “When you go completely straight (from a corner exit) with the device it’s quite similar even in comparison. So, it’s quite normal.” But there is an uncertainty hidden beneath this superficial peace. “I think the only issue that we might have is that you approach the first corner and the front wheel doesn’t touch the ground. So, maybe you start braking and maybe you lock the front because it’s not on the ground. So, I found that’s the limit at the moment that I have to keep an eye on, and then tomorrow and Sunday we’ll see how it will be. I hope everything goes well.”
If it were up to Di Giannantonio, the old ways would remain. “I have already said that the front holeshot device from my side is also fine for security,” he stressed. “But if they did their analysis and whatever, I think it’s better to start this way (without the front device), for me it’s good. At the moment I find it a little scary, but that’s my personal opinion. But then the goal is not to have a crash like this in the first corner, so let’s go for it.”
The VR46 Racing Team rider’s discomfort did not end with the start process. On the track, he finished seventh in Friday practice, admitting that his machine felt anything but settled. “I’m missing that fast lap, especially with the soft tyres,” Di Giannantonio confessed. “I think we have to improve on that.” He explained: “With the medium tyres, I was very close. Overall, the bike is quite unstable and we are a bit ‘under the blanket’, let’s say, in terms of front grip and rear grip. So, we are really trying to maximize the package at the moment and I think we haven’t really shown the best package at the moment. So, I hope and I hope tomorrow will be better.”
Now, all eyes are on Saturday’s qualifying and Sunday’s main event as riders grapple with a new normal and teams look for stability. The ban on front holeshot devices is more than just a technical regulation – it’s a test of adaptability and nerve. Will safety improve, or will the first corner frenzy increase? The coming days in Assen will provide the answers, and the stakes could not be higher for riders who risk everything in the pursuit of glory.
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