Italian Francesco Bagnaia won the MotoGP Italian Grand Prix on Sunday May 29 at the Mugello circuit in Italy. The leader of the official Ducati team took the lead of the race halfway through the Grand Prix and never let go, keeping his pursuers at a safe distance. For the first time, Bagnaia wins at home, the Ducati factory being located in Bologna, 70 km from the Mugello circuit.
Frenchman Fabio Quartararo, reigning world champion, finished second one second behind Bagnaia. The podium is identical to that of the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez on May 1, since the Spaniard Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia), runner-up to Quartararo in the championship standings, takes third place.
Despite the straight-line power deficit of his Yamaha, the French rider is the only competitor who has managed to keep pace with the Ducati rider. Quartararo, who won on this track in 2021, is widening the gap with his main rivals in the world championship. He is the only driver in the paddock to have finished in the top 10 in all races since the start of the season.
“Pecco” Bagnaia, he recovers, moving from 7th to 4th place. The big loser of the day is Enea Bastianini (Gresini), winner of three races this season, who fell ten laps from the end. He is now behind in the standings.
The other Frenchman, Johann Zarco (Ducati-Pramac), took a good fourth place ahead of Luca Marini on Ducati. As for the Spaniard Marc Marquez, he finished 10th for his last race before a long break. The six-time world champion must again be operated on his right arm, fractured in the summer of 2020.