1' min
Marc Marquez continued his dominant run by winning the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, securing his 13th victory in 18 races this season. The Ducati star claimed a decisive win ahead of his younger brother Alex and Italian Fabio Di Giannantonio, who snatched third place from Pecco Bagnaia in the final laps. The defending world champion finished fourth and now trails by 110 points, effectively ending his title hopes.
After crossing the line, Marquez celebrated by waving the Ducati flag in front of the home crowd, despite being met with boos. “It’s a fantastic feeling”, said the Spaniard. “We didn’t wear the traditional red, but we still represented Ducati’s spirit. Pecco and Alex pushed me early on, but I stayed calm and brought it home”.
Bagnaia had taken the lead at the start, ignoring Marquez’s 100th pole position, and the pair exchanged passes in a thrilling battle that saw light contact. Alex Marquez waited until lap six to lead briefly, then yielded to his brother, who pulled away and managed his pace to the finish.
With two laps to go, a tired Bagnaia was overtaken by Di Giannantonio, who secured his first Mugello podium riding the VR46 Ducati. “I was at the limit but decided it was worth the risk,” said the Roman rider. “The energy here is incredible”. Alex Marquez admitted: “I wanted to challenge Marc, but he was too fast today. I avoided unnecessary risks”.
Rounding out the top five were Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia) and Franco Morbidelli, penalized for a risky move that sent Vinales into the gravel. The MotoGP circus now heads to Assen for the Dutch GP, known as the Cathedral of Speed.
