Gresini’s Fabio Di Giannantonio had a shorter than expected Portimao MotoGP test after a turn seven crash on day one.

Having placed ninth in the opening day’s final standings, eight tenths shy of Pecco Bagnaia’a leading lap, Di Giannantonio was frustrated to be ruled out of action for the final showing due to concussion. The Italian suffered a ‘normal’ lowside on his 51st lap of Saturday’s running but while sliding across the asphalt proved uneventful, the same couldn’t be said for his encounter with the gravel trap.

“Just normal crash,” Di Giannantonio explained from Portugal. “Was a lowside crash so I was just laying on the asphalt but then once I touch the gravel with my head, I had a big, big impact so I lost the senses for a while. We did the check yesterday in the hospital, everything is fine but the doctor says that it’s better to relax and to take some rest for three, four days, then let’s see how it goes but I feel really good.

“The feeling is great. The bike is incredible and we are working so good to give me all the best feelings that I can have to go faster.

“We were improving run by run,” he said of progress with his Ducati GP22. “I was using medium tyres to improve my riding style and to improve the bike, waiting to put the softs, then this little crash happen so the day was ruined, but overall, I’m super happy about our preseason. We were super consistent, super fast and we were growing day by day so honestly, can’t wait to join back the track and see what we can do in the first race.”