Italian Fans Erupt as Bagnaia Dominates Italian GP with Ducati Lockout
Francesco Bagnaia led the way to a memorable Ducati podium lockout to the delight of the home fans at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley. The Italian dominated the race from start to finish, getting off to a flying start from pole position, and extending his lead in the championship over Marco Bezzecchi to 21 points. Jorge Martin pushed him all the way, but had to settle for second, just over a second behind the winner. Johann Zarco completed the Prima Pramac Racing domination, while Luca Marini missed out on a podium finish at home.
The Battle for Third Place Rages On
The grid was tense for one of the most iconic races on the calendar, with spectators eagerly anticipating the start. Jack Miller briefly took the lead at Turn 1, but Bagnaia soon returned to the front, determined to win on his home soil. He began to stretch out a lead while Martin chased him down, and the battle for third raged throughout the race.
Alex Marquez had a wild run into Turn 1 with 21 laps to go, sending himself and Miller wide and allowing Marini and Marc Marquez to battle for third and fourth place. Bagnaia continued to dominate at the front as the chasing group closed in on each other.
Drama Unfolds in the Battle for Podium
With six laps to go, Zarco made his presence felt and made a beautiful move at the final corner to bring Marini onto the front straight. Marini quickly reclaimed third place, but Zarco was having none of it, determined to break away from his fellow Ducati satellite rider. He pulled ahead, cementing a double podium finish for Pramac at their home circuit.
Brad Binder set a new all-time MotoGP record for top speed and became the highest-placed non-Ducati rider in P5. He led Aleix Espargaro across the line, with teammate Jack Miller taking P7.
Bagnaia’s Triumph Fuels Championship Defence
Francesco Bagnaia fuelled his championship defence with a superb win at Mugello, taking the European treble off to a perfect start. Leading Bezzecchi by 21 points, the number 1 is in a strong position for the coming races. The Liqui Moly Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland awaits on the grid next weekend, with action in Assen just a week later.
Summary
Italian fans were jubilant as Francesco Bagnaia dominated the Italian GP from start to finish, leading the pack to a Ducati podium lockout. Jorge Martin pushed him all the way, with Johann Zarco taking third place. Drama unfolded as riders vied for the podium, and Brad Binder set a new all-time MotoGP record for top speed. Bagnaia’s triumph fuelled his championship defence, and the number 1 now leads by a healthy 21 points.
Additional Piece
The Italian Grand Prix at Mugello is one of the most iconic races on the MotoGP calendar and has been a fixture since 1991. Nestled in the heart of the Tuscan hills, the circuit is a challenging mix of sweeping curves and demanding straights. The passionate fans who fill the stands are some of the most vocal and enthusiastic in motorsport, and they live for the moment when the bikes roar past at speeds of up to 220 mph.
For Italian riders, the race holds a special significance as it is one of the few events where they compete on home soil. The pressure to perform in front of their adoring fans is immense, but it is also what makes the Italian Grand Prix so special. The excitement and emotion of the event are unparalleled, as every rider knows that the roar of the crowd can help them summon the courage and focus needed to win.
Francesco Bagnaia knows this better than anyone, having won the race in style this year. His dominance at Mugello has propelled him to the top of the championship standings, and his confidence is sky-high heading into the next race. As the series heads to Germany and the Netherlands, the Italian will need to maintain his focus and keep pushing to maintain his lead. But he knows that the passion and support of his fans will be with him every step of the way, spurring him on to greater feats on the track.
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Italian fans rose to their feet at the Italian GP when their hometown hero led the way to a Ducati podium lockout.
Sunday at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley is a day that Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) will cherish fondly in his memory, as the Italian did the double at Mugello -from pole position- and extended his lead in the Championship. a single point to a very healthy 21. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) kept the Italian honest from start to finish but he didn’t have enough to topple the number 1 as he was forced to settle for second, albeit only a second behind. . The battle for third place raged throughout the race, eventually seeing Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) fly through the field to take P3 and deny Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) a podium finish at home.
Tensions were high on the grid as the sun shone down on Mugello for one of the most iconic Grands Prix on the calendar, and it was Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) who fired into Turn 1, but Bagnaia went out of the gates. Determined to deliver on his home soil, the Italian fought his way back to the front at the next apex. He then began to stretch out a lead as the chasing group changed paint on the first lap. Bagnaia crossed the front row line 0.4sec ahead of the Martin-liveried Prima Pramac special machine, which had passed Miller, and the Australian was being attacked by a tail of riders led by Marini and Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda team).
The two forwards began to separate as Bagnaia attempted to stretch the field, with Martin clinging to Pecco’s coattails as chaos began to unfold in the battle for third.
With 21 laps to go, Alex Márquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) had a wild run into Turn 1, seemingly unable to drop anchor and break through the pack. Both he and Miller were sent wide, allowing Marini and Márquez to battle their way up to third and fourth, and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was also in the mix.
The race leveled off as the laps began to run and Bagnaia led by a constant 0.4sec gap over Martin, who remained in contention for victory. 1.5s back, a battle for the podium was brewing very well with Marini sitting in P3 with the Marquez brothers glued to his rear wheel.
![](https://photos.motogp.com/2023/06/11/vlcsnap-2023-06-11-14h44m45s658-2_0.middle.jpg?version=1685434008 1x)
WATCH: Alex Márquez involved in crazy three-on-one move
As always, Marc Márquez was at the absolute limit of his Honda machine until the Spaniard went wide at the final corner and crashed in the dirt part of the track with 17 laps remaining.
This opened up the field a bit as Marini had a bit of breathing room over Alex Márquez in fourth with Johann Zarco threatening the podium fight in fifth.
![](https://photos.motogp.com/2023/06/11/vlcsnap-2023-06-11-14h33m24s085-2_1.middle.jpg?version=1685434008 1x)
Big drama when Marc Márquez falls out of the podium battle!
Bagnaia continued to set the laps while setting a solid pace unmatched by the rest of the field. The Italian controlled the race beautifully from the front keeping Martin at arm’s length until the checkered flag.
The Spaniard kept Bagnaia on his toes until the checkered flag, pushing him every step of the way. Martin didn’t have enough for the win, but he did take home an important P2.
Fortune favors the brave in the fight for the Italian GP podium
The fight for the podium was really underway with 11 laps to go when Alex Márquez rode alongside Marini into Turn 1, pulling off the perfect blocking pass to demote the Italian to P4 with Zarco also waiting to jump.
Marini continued to put pressure on Alex Márquez up front, and with no margin for error in MotoGP™, the slightest mistake saw the Spaniard crash out of the Italian Grand Prix as he joined his brother in the Mugello gravel trap.
![](https://photos.motogp.com/2023/06/11/vlcsnap-2023-06-11-14h50m58s150-2_0.middle.jpg?version=1685434008 1x)
WATCH: Pressure says as Alex Marquez crashes out of P3
Six laps to go and Zarco made Marini very aware of his presence as he made a beautiful move into the final corner to bring Marini onto the front straight. The Italian returned directly in the wake of the Frenchman and reclaimed third place as they plunged into Turn 1.
However, Zarco was having none of it as the Prima Pramac man responded directly to the VR46 rider, lowering the hammer in an attempt to break away from his fellow Ducati satellite.
The Frenchman went on to do exactly what he does best and, with incredible pace late in the race, pulled away from Marini to cement a double podium finish for Pramac at the team’s home circuit.
Action across the field
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) set the new all-time MotoGP™ top speed record on Saturday and was the first non-Ducati rider in P5. He led Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) across the line with teammate Jack Miller taking P7.
A dismal start to the race for Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) saw him stuck in P8 with 15 laps to go. The Italian then used his Ducati power to get past Aleix Espargaro at the start and finish. It wasn’t meant to be the Sunday of his home Grand Prix for “Bez,” however, as Espargaró found his way back past the Italian, leaving the VR46 man to take home a lone P8.
Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) finished his first race back from injury in P9 with Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) completing the top 10 ahead of teammate Fabio Quartararo.
It was a big weekend for Francesco Bagnaia’s 2023 title hopes as Italian support fueled his Championship defense. Leading Bezzecchi by 21 points, the number 1 has gotten the European treble off to a perfect start as the paddock heads to the same place where everything went wrong for Bagnaia in 2021. The Liqui Moly Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland awaits on the grid on next weekend with action in Assen just a week later. Be sure to keep up with all the action as it unfolds on motogp.com!
1. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team)
2. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) – +1,067
3. Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) – +1,977
4. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) – +4,625
5. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – +8.925
6. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing)- +10,908
7. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – +10,999
8. Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) – +12,654
9. Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) – +17,102
10. Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) – +17,610
https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2023/06/11/mugello-explodes-as-bagnaia-takes-home-victory-with-ducati/456368
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