Defending Champion Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia rode his Lenovo Ducati Desmosedici to victory in Saturday’s 11-lap MotoGP Sprint race at Mugello.

Bagnaia won by 0.369 second over Mooney VR46 Racing Team Ducati’s Marco Bezzecchi.

Jorge Martin finished third on his Prima Pramac Racing Ducati, just 0.952 second behind Bagnaia.

The top five finishers all rode Ducatis.

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Bagnaia masters the mayhem in manic Mugello Sprint

The Tissot Sprint serves up a storm as Bezzecchi is forced to settle for second and the action comes thick and fast from first lap to last

Saturday, 10 June 2023

The Tissot Sprint at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley kept MotoGP™ fans on the edge of their seats as a freight train of riders hurtled under the looming clouds threatening Saturday’s perfect dry running. With all the 2023 big hitters in the mix it was a tall order for Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) to take victory as closest challenger Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) was right on the tail of the #1 to the flag, but the reigning Champion held firm to lay down the gauntlet for Sunday. The battle for 3rd went down to the wire as well as Prima Pramac Racing had their own duel, Jorge Martin just fending off his teammate Johann Zarco.

To push or not to push?

Rain clouds loomed over Mugello ahead of the first-ever Tissot Sprint at the iconic Italian venue. The lights went out, and Bagnaia took the holeshot as Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) flew his way into P2. Miller didn’t hold onto it though as Bagnaia led Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) and Martin on the first lap.

There was drama from the off as Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was eager to carve through the field. The South African saw a small gap left open by Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), but as the door naturally began to close on the racing line the slightest of touches was all that was needed to send the Spaniard into the Turn 1 gravel trap. Binder was given a Long Lap for that as AM73 tumbled out, rider ok.

Bagnaia, Marc Marquez, Martin, Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), Bezzecchi, and Miller was the order the first time across the line. Spits of rain then began to fall as Martin decided it was time to hit the front with the pack bunching up in uncertain conditions. The rain flags came out as the riders were now able to swap bikes if they so wished.

The pack began to shuffle as the rain came down on the far section of the circuit with nine laps to go. Martin led the way with Miller and Marquez following closely. At this point, Miller decided it was time for gloves off as he divebombed Marc Marquez, sending them both wide and down the order.

Meanwhile at the front, Bagnaia had retaken the lead and with Marquez and Miller now having dropped down to P7 and P5 respectively, the order was now Bagnaia, Martin, Bezzecchi, Marini, and Miller.

The top dog vs the new kid on the block

The rain stopped and the race began to settle down with seven laps to go, but now it was now Bezzecchi catapulting himself right in the mix. The young Italian was all over the rear wheel of the race leader Bagnaia, with the Pramac duo of Martin and Zarco waiting to pick up the pieces in 3rd and 4th.

The pressure was on for Bagnaia but the #1 responded in true Champions’ fashion stretching out the field with four laps remaining. Bagnaia put the hammer down setting the fastest lap of the race, giving himself some breathing space ahead of chasing Indendent Team Ducatis. Bezzecchi threw the kitchen sink at the Mugello circuit but it wasn’t enough to get the better of Bagnaia who was in a league of his own, and brought home his first Tissot Sprint victory on home soil.

Points up for grabs

The fight for the final spot in the top 3 was decided by less than a tenth of a second as Zarco almost rode pillion to Martin on the final lap. The final sector came Zarco was trying everything to push his way through, but the Spaniard kept the door firmly closed on the #5.

Marini rounded out the top 5 on home soil with Miller recovering to P6 after dropping down the order. After Miller and Marquez had bashed bars early on, Marquez came home P7.

Walking wounded, Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) held strong in a solid point-scoring finish ahead of another recovering rider in Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team). The Italian took the final point as he crossed the line in a Tissot Sprint for the first time in his career. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) rounded out the top 10 as his 2023 struggles continued somewhat, looking for more on Sunday.

If Saturday’s action at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley is anything to go by, you do not want to miss any of the action on Sunday’s billing as the race gets underway at 14:00 local time (GMT +2)!

Canet grabs pole ahead of Acosta, Arbolino 10th

Aron Canet (Pons Wegwow Los40) put his name well and truly into the mix for victory contention at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley as the Spaniard put down a 1:50.796 in Q2, but bad luck hit not long after. He crashed out and headed to the medical centre, and he’ll need to be reviewed before the race to get the ok to start. He has a small bone infraction in two fingers, but he’ll be determined to be given the green light.

Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) dominated practice and was the favourite going into the session, but fell 0.159s short of his compatriot to start second. Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) rounded out the top three for another front row, with teammate and Championship leader Tony Arbolino down in 10th.

Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) bagged P4 to secure the top spot on row two with Filip Salač (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) and Jake Dixon (AutosolarGASGAS Aspar M2) joining the American on Row 2. It was looking as if Celestino Vietti (Fantic Racing) was going to take pole in the closing stages, but traffic mid-lap halted the Italian’s progress. Vietti will line up in P7 on the grid, fronting Row 3 ahead of the MB Conveyors SpeedUp duo of Fermin Aldeguer and Alonso Lopez. Can they move forward? Tune in at 12:15 (GMT+2) on Sunday to find out!

Öncü takes pole in demolition job at the top

Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) has been faultless so far at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley as he put in an incredible 1:56.020 for pole, over half a second clear. Joel Kelso (CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP) set the 2nd fastest time but following a sanction for slow riding on the line, will start from the back of the grid and take a long lap penalty in the race. That promotes Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) to second on the grid and Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) onto the front row.

Despite taking pole by over half a second, Öncü was determined to break the 1:46 barrier and set a new all-time lap record for the Moto3™ category. It wasn’t meant to be for the KTM man however, as the rear-end slid out midway through a hot lap seeing him lose half a second in one sector.

Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) led the best of the rest as the Brazilian was 0.701s shy of pole, but just like Kelso serves a back of the grid and Long Lap penalty. This gifts Matteo Bertelle (Rivacold Snipers Team) P4 as he enjoyed a dream weekend starting from the front of row 2 at his home Grand Prix. Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) will join him on row two, with Andrea Migno (CIP Green Power), Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia), and Scott Ogden (VisionTrack Racing Team) making up row three. Check out full results below.

The Moto3™ riders’ attention now turns to the race on Sunday, make sure not to miss any of the action as it commences at 11:00 local time (GMT +2).

Spaniard Aron Canet, riding his Pons Wegow Los40 Kalex, claimed pole position during Moto2 qualifying Saturday at Mugello with a lap time of 1:50.796.

Canet’s countryman Pedro Acosta was second-fastest with a 1:50.955 on his Red Bull KTM Ajo Kalex.

Brit Sam Lowes earned the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:50.958 on his Elf Marc VDS Racing Team Kalex.

Americans Joe Roberts (1:51.008) and Sean Dylan Kelly (1:52.202) qualified fourth and 22nd, respectively.

Turkish racer Deniz Oncu claimed pole position during Moto3 World Championship qualifying Saturday at the Mugello Circuit, in Italy.

Riding his Red Bull KTM Ajo machine, Oncu did a lap time of 1:56.020 to top the 28-rider field.

Andrea Mantovani, riding his RNF MotoE Team Ducati electric racebike, won MotoE World Championship Race One Saturday at the Mugello Circuit, in Italy.

Polesitter Matteo Ferrari came up 0.152 second short in second place on his Felo Gresini Ducati.

Mattia Casadei was equally close in third on his HP Pons Los40 Ducati, completing an all-Italian podium.

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Mantovani fends off Ferrari and Casadei in close Race 1

It’s a tricolore podium and a first time winner in the first electric showdown at Mugello

Saturday, 10 June 2023

Andrea Mantovani (RNF MotoE™ Team) is now a MotoE™ race winner! The Italian came out on top in Race 1 at Mugello, fighting off Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE™) and Mattia Casadei (HP Pons Los40) in an all-Italian showdown for the win. Ferrari got oh so close on the final lap but couldn’t quit make a move, forced to settle for second, with Casadei a little disappointed in third but back on the podium on home turf.

Ferrari and Casadei shot off the line as the lights went out, with Eric Granado (LCR E-Team) losing some ground in the shuffle at Turn 1 and Jordi Torres (Openbank Aspar Team) the same. Hector Garzo (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) managed to gain from seventh, but it was Mantovani making waves behind Ferrari and Casadei in the lead as the trio started to break away.

A jolt of drama came at the start of Lap 2, with Nicholas Spinelli (HP Pons Los40) trying a move on Garzo for fourth and overcooking it, sliding out. Rider ok, but it left Garzo at the head of the  group chasing the leading trio. As the laps ticked down though, the chasing group became a duo as Garzo and teammate Randy Krummemacher kept some clear air back to Granado, with the Brazilian starting to come under some pressure from behind.

With three to go, Mantovani then hit for the lead. A clean move at Turn 1 saw the number 9 take over, and the very same corner staged another shuffle next time round. Ferrari got past Mantovani on the straight and then headed slightly wide, just as Casadei got past Mantovani. But the number 9 was able to get the cutback on both in stunning style, back in the lead as the final lap approached.

Onto that last lap, Mantovani stayed ahead as Ferrari sliced back past Casadei, and the number 11 then set about chasing the RNF machine down. But as close as he got, he couldn’t make a move through the final sector, with Mantovani taking that stunning home win. Ferrari was forced to settle for second, with Casadei back on the rostrum for the first time in 2023 in third.

Fourth saw Garzo just get the better of rookie teammate Krummenacher, with Granado coming home sixth as he returns to action and managed to hold off Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse duo Kevin Manfredi and Kevin Zannoni. Torres eventually took P9 and will want more in Race 2, with Miquel Pons (LCR E-Team) completing the top ten.

Defending Champion Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia earned pole position during MotoGP qualifying Saturday at the Mugello Circuit, in Italy. Riding his Lenovo Ducati Desmosedici, Bagnaia lapped the 3.2-mile (5.2 km) track in 1:44.855, which eclipsed Fabio Quartararo’s 2021 All-Time Lap Record of 1:45.187.

Earning the other two spots on the front row were Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez (1:44.933) and his younger brother Alex Marquez (1:45.007), who rode a Gresini Ducati.

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Bagnaia vs Marquez heats up! Pole decided by 0.078 after close Q2 showdown at Mugello

Less than a tenth of a second and one lengthy on-track debate decides pole in favour of Pecco, with MM93 second and Alex Marquez third fastest

Saturday, 10 June 2023

Another Saturday, another stunning Q2… and another portion of spice for the history books! At the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) has beaten Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) to pole by another tiny margin, this time 0.078, and the two once again exchanged some words as the number 93 slotted in behind the reigning World Champion on track. In Q2, Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) was third fastest despite having come through Q1, grabbing a front row for the Tissot Sprint right at the end, but he’ll serve his 3-place grid penalty on Sunday… bumping Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) up to a front row for the Grand Prix race.

Q1

As ever, there were some big names in Q1 looking for a spot in the top ten shootout, including Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) and Alex Marquez. The number 73 set the benchmark early on and no one could get close – but it was a tense finale for the rest fighting over that second chance to move through.

Initially it was held by Viñales before a late lap from Miller saw the Aussie steal it, but both the number 12 and Quartararo were still out there giving it one last shot. Viñales was close in the first two sectors before his time started to fade, and Quartararo the opposite as he started out of touch, got within two tenths, and then lost out over the line. So that was that: Alex Marquez led Miller through, Viñales loses out, and Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) pips teammate Quartararo to P14.

Q2

Early on, Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) was on a race to get back out after a crash, and Marc Marquez was making friends with a tow, this time slotted in behind Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) as they went to the top. Next, Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) took over on provisional pole and the stage was set for a fairly shot at the top.

Then the fireworks really started. Marc Marquez came out of pitlane behind Bezzecchi but at a distance… and Bagnaia was heading down the main straight. As he headed round Turn 1 and saw the Repsol Honda ahead, the Italian immediately started gesticulating. He moved alongside the Honda and did the same, with Marquez not going anywhere, and then Pecco put the hammer down. The number 93 followed and the two shot off round Mugello.

That lap was a different kind of fireworks, with Pecco setting a new lap record and laying down the gauntlet, ignoring the Honda on his tail. Could Marquez do what he did in Portugal and nearly did in France, pipping the reigning World Champion at the post? Not this time. As the Repsol Honda crossed the line, it was into second place… by just 0.078. And what a show!

It wasn’t over there as Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) shot up into third, and Alex Marquez was on the move. The number 73 just shuffled his fellow Q1 graduate off the front row, and that seemed a wrap. Even after the session, however, came a change. After reviewing a suspected track limits infraction for Marini at Turn 5 that had seen the Italian’s lap cancelled, it was later reinstated – putting him fourth in the session.

THE GRID(S)

That makes it Bagnaia – Marquez, Marc – Marquez, Alex fronting the grid for the Tissot Sprint at Mugello, with Marini at the head of Row 2. The Italian has Miller and Martin alongside on Saturday.

On Sunday, however, Alex Marquez has a 3-place grid penalty given in Le Mans, so the Grand Prix race grid will be Bagnaia, Marc Marquez and Marini on the front row, and Miller, Martin and Alex Marquez on Row 2.

Bezzecchi therefore heads up Row 3, joined by Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) as he rode through the pain barrier into P8, just ahead of Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) and Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol). Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), after a crash at Turn 11, will start 11th, looking for some immediate progress off the line. Bastianini rounds out Q2 as he couldn’t move up the order after that early crash.

Matteo Ferrari claimed pole position during FIM MotoE qualifying Friday at the Mugello Circuit, in Italy. Riding his Felo Gresini Ducati electric racebike, Ferrari lapped the 3.2-mile (5.2 km) circuit in a new All-Time Lap Record time of 1:55.752 to top the 18-rider field.