22 MotoGP rounds are “too many for the body”, feels Fabio di Giannantonio

Fabio di Giannantonio feels MotoGP’s current schedule is pushing riders too far, highlighting the physical toll of the expanded calendar.

The 2025 MotoGP season featured a record 22 grands prix, boosted by the addition of a new track in Hungary and returning races in the Czech Republic and Argentina.

With sprints becoming a fixture at every weekend since 2023, riders contested a total of 44 races across this season, a significant increase for a championship that previously ran fewer than 20 races a year.

Marc Marquez’s early title coronation in Japan, followed by his crash in Indonesia, further drained momentum from the championship, which ended with a relatively low-key finale.

Reflecting on 2025, Di Giannantonio believes MotoGP’s schedule has become too demanding for riders, leaving them with little time to focus on training and maintaining their fitness level.

“Too many [races]. Too many travelling days, too many for the body. 44 races, [it is] too many,” the VR46 rider said in Valencia.

“Zero training. You train a lot in one month, let's say, in January, and then you just try to keep your form as best as you can through the season. It's completely normal that your physical form goes down a little bit. 

“But it's what we are paid for, so we have to make it.”

LCR rider Johann Zarco echoed di Giannantonio’s sentiment, adding how riders also have to stay sharp for the Valencia test that is held immediately after the final race of the season.

“We can feel that there is a weight of the 22 races. The body is kind of struggling,” he said. “We will need a bit more rest [in the winter] to come back with better energy.

“So maybe we reach the weekend with 70% or 80% of the energy, not 100%. 

Johann Zarco, Team LCR Honda

“But we know that when we do the last push on Sunday [in Valencia], then you need to be focused on Tuesday, because you need to do Tuesday in a good way. 

“If you don't have enough energy on Tuesday, it becomes dangerous because you always need to be feeling good and good in your mind to go on the bike.”

Di Giannantonio’s former team-mate Marco Bezzecchi admitted that MotoGP’s 22-round schedule is demanding, but feels results also play a key role in how riders perceive the calendar.

Bezzecchi enjoyed a strong end to his 2025 campaign, winning the final two grands prix in Portimao and Valencia aboard the improved Aprilia RS-GP.

“It depends a lot on the mood, because if you are going well, you enjoy and you feel that the races are going super quick,” he said. “In my case, for example, after Jerez, I have to say that time was flying. 

“It's difficult to have 22 races with the motorbike, 44 with the sprints. So physically it's tough, mentally also. 

“But if you are able to build a good relationship with your team and you feel good at the races, then we are doing what we love, so it's ok.”

Much of MotoGP’s expansion has centred around new markets in Asia, with Dorna following the same strategy as F1 to grow the championship.

Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia said he welcomed MotoGP’s push to explore new venues outside of Europe, but admitted he would have liked the 2025 season to end sooner.

“We are prepared for everything and I think it's fair to have a calendar like this,” he said. “We are enjoying riding and, honestly, doing more races out of Europe is nice and we have a good time there.

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

“In my situation, honestly, it's more tough, but it's what it is - and it's great that it's like this. Last year, I needed one more race, this season maybe five less. But it's what it is.”

KTM star Pedro Acosta also had no major issue with the expanded 2025 calendar, but acknowledged that injuries now carry greater consequences for riders.

“I think it's a good number,” he said. “We spend a lot of time with the team. And it's good [to have more races], even in the bad moments, to maintain a flow.

“It's true that it's quite tough for riders that get injured. Normally, in the past, you lose one or two races, and now you could lose maybe four in a row if your injury is not super big. 

“Like Marco said, it depends on the mood that you are in. The only negative is if you become injured.”

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