For the first time since 1968, Italian manufacturers monopolised the top five at Silverstone
At the Monster Energy British Grand Prix we witnessed something that hadn’t happened since way back in 1968, a day which saw MotoGP™ Legend Giacomo Agostini win the Nations GP at the iconic Monza circuit.
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That something was five Italian manufacturers finishing in the top five of a premier class race, thanks to Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team), Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing). Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was the first non-Italian factory rider to cross the line in sixth, while Alex Rins on board his Team Suzuki Ecstar machine was the leading Japanese manufacturer star in seventh.
It was a similar pattern we saw at the Dutch TT too. The top four – including Bagnaia, Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), Viñales and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) – was also monopolised by Italy’s Aprilia and Ducati. It was the first time that had happened since 1972.
FREE: The final laps from a Silverstone classic
The success coincides with Ducati’s impressive streak of claiming 18 podiums in a row, a run that has stretched back to the 2021 British GP and shows no signs of slowing down. And if it wasn’t for Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) piecing together another stellar season, the Italian brands would also be dominating the Championship standings with Yamaha the only Japanese manufacturer inside the top seven.
Can both Ducati and Aprilia continue their fantastic form between now and the end of 2022? The answer is almost certainly yes, with both Pecco and Aleix Espargaro challenging for the coveted MotoGP™ crown. The 2022 RS-GP has been up the sharp end everywhere this season and Ducati’s 100% podium record speaks for itself. Next up is a trip to Austria; Ducati tend to go well there, don’t they?
Don’t rule out more top position lockouts from the Italian marques in the near future.
