Marc Marquez at Mugello

MotoGP News: M. Marquez wins Italian GP at Mugello Sprint Race

Having secured a 100th career pole, Marc Marquez (pictured) was primed to stamp his authority on the Italian GP at Mugello Sprint and that’s exactly what he did – even if he did it a harder way than he’d have preferred.

Coming in behind him, Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) was second , 1.441s behind brother Marc.

Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) took third after leading on the opening lap. He ultimately finished 2.561s behind Marquez.

There was drama before the lights even went out for polesitter Marquez, who seemed to be distracted by something as the Sprint got underway, costing him places on the run down to San Donato. The holeshot was grabbed by Bagnaia, while Alex was now into second.

Further back, all kinds of drama as Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) fell after contact with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), leaving Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) nowhere to go as both fell. The incident was initially investigated but no further action taken. There was another faller at the end of the first lap with Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) crashing at Turn 15 before he completed the first lap.

BATTLE COMMENCES: 3 titans put on a show

Lap 2 was a real corker as Marc Marquez, now already back into P3, was alongside brother Alex and teammate Pecco into Turn 1, three abreast as they fought for the lead. The #93 initially hit the front but ran himself and his brother Alex wide as Mugello specialist Bagnaia had the inside for the exit. Getting their elbows out, the #63 and #73 went head-to-head into Turn 2, with the Gresini Racing Ducati coming out on top. Pecco was pushed back further at Turn 4 with Marc coming by, re-asserting his authority in the factory colors.

MOVE FOR VICTORY: Marc gets ahead of Alex

On Lap 4, the #93 made his move to lead ahead of his brother, both now a second clear of Pecco in third but it wasn’t all done as both initially seemed to latch back on to the #93. However, with just 4 laps to go, it was looking like a battle for P1 as Alex homed in on Marc and then another for P3, as Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) began to close down double Champion Bagnaia. The gap was just three tenths going into the penultimate lap but in the end, it was to remain the same. Further back and Quartararo’s challenging Sprint was made worse as Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) came through to steal the last point.

At the front, Marc Marquez converted his 100th GP pole to strike in his teammate’s backyard. Another Marquez 1-2 with Alex in second whilst Bagnaia’s run of wins at Mugello draws to a close. Viñales showed great pace but couldn’t quite snatch a podium in the closing stages but a solid fourth will give him encouragement for tomorrow, whereas Di Giannantonio was fifth.

Bezzecchi didn’t have the easiest of races as first lap contact with Pedro Acosta saw him with wing damage but still, a hearty performance brought him home in sixth. Morbidelli had to settle for seventh ahead of Fernandez who bagged his first Sprint points of the season, ahead of Aldeguer, edging out Quartararo for the final point.

Italian GP at Mugello Sprint Race Results

Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team Constructor Behind
1 Marquez Marc 93 SPA 12 Ducati Lenovo Team Ducati 0.000s
2 Marquez Alex 73 SPA 9 Team Gresini Racing MotoGP Ducati 1.441
3 Bagnaia Francesco 63 ITA 7 Ducati Lenovo Team Ducati 2.561
4 Vinales Maverick 25 SPA 6 Red Bull KTM Tech 3 KTM 3.099
5 Di Giannantonio Fabio 49 ITA 5 Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team Ducati 4.139
6 Bezzecchi Marco 72 ITA 4 Aprilia Racing Aprilia 6.391
7 Morbidelli Franco 21 ITA 3 Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team Ducati 7.631
8 Fernandez Raul 25 SPA 2 Trackhouse Racing Aprilia 8.926
9 Aldegeur Fermin 54 SPA 1 Team Gresini Racing MotoGP Ducati 10.361
10 Quartararo Fabio 20 FRA 0 Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 11.096
11 Bastianini Enea 23 ITA 0 Red Bull KTM Tech 3 KTM 11.870
12 Ogura Ai 79 JPN 0 Trackhouse Racing Aprilia 12.930
13 Oliveira Miguel 88 POR 0 Prima Pramac Yamaha Yamaha 13.916
14 Mir Joan 36 SPA 0 Honda HRC Castrol Honda 15.460
15 Nakagami Takaaki 30 JPN 0 Honda HRC Castrol Honda 17.038
16 Miller Jack 43 AUS 0 Prima Pramac Yamaha Yamaha 20.031
17 Savadori Lorenzo 32 ITA 0 Aprilia Racing Aprilia 20.729
18 Rins Alex 42 SPA 0 Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 24.661
19 Chantra Somkiat 35 THA 0 LCR Honda Honda 31.539
20 Acosta Pedro 37 SPA DNF Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM DNF
21 Zarco Johann 5 FRA DNF LCR Honda Honda DNF
22 Binder Brad 33 RSA DNF Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM DNF