MotoGP™ recap: Italian GP

A return to home soil saw Francesco Bagnaia bounce back in style at the Italian Grand Prix. The factory Ducati rider didn’t see the chequered flag at the previous round, but he put on a show for the adoring home fans in Mugello to take it first in Round 8 of the 2022 World Championship.

• REWIND: CHAPTER 8 – THE ITALIAN JOB

• UNSEEN: “YOU ARE CRAZY” – THE MASTERS OF MUGELLO REACT

• “IT WAS THE ONLY WAY TO CONTINUE” – MARQUEZ SAYS SO LONG FOR NOW

The pre-race headlines had been dominated by Marc Marquez, with the Repsol Honda rider announcing that he would undergo a fourth surgery on his problematic right humerus and shoulder in a bid to regain full fitness. It meant that after Mugello, we wouldn’t be seeing the eight-time Champion in action any time soon, and he signed off with a P10.

It was a breakthrough weekend for some budding Italian talent, with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) forming a shock rookie one-two on the grid, while Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) completed the surprise front row. The latter two held on against some more established stars of the class to secure top six finished, with Diggia slipping to 11th.

It was a breakthrough weekend for some budding Italian talent, with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) forming a shock rookie one-two on the grid, while Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) completed the surprise front row. The latter two held on against some more established stars of the class to secure top six finished, with Diggia slipping to 11th.

• CCTV SHEDS LIGHT ON CLASH THAT LEFT RINS SEETHING

• WATCH: THE PRE-SEASON TITLE FAVOURITES FACE OFF IN MUGELLO

• BASTIANINI AT A LOSS TO EXPLAIN INCONSISTENT FORM

Elsewhere, Suzuki’s struggles continued as neither of their riders saw the chequered flag again. Alex Rins was furious with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) as he laid the blame for his crash at the door of the Japanese rider. 

In the Championship race, Quartararo’s lead grew a little bit bigger over Espargaro, while a DNF for Enea Bastianini saw him drop to 28 points off the top ahead of the Catalan GP.