It was an Italian Grand Prix with a somewhat unexpected scenario which took place on the Mugello track. An entire site dedicated to Valentino Rossi who intended to materialize his pole position with a victory. But its engine decided otherwise. A formality for Lorenzo? Nay! Marquez was there!
Un Marc Márquez who first followed the two Yamahas thus respecting his schedule which should bring him to the podium at best. A matter apparently settled since the Ducatis were not there, Iannone having had problems with his clutch while Dovizioso had moved back into the top 5 from its distant place on the grid.
The duel between the two Yamahas promised to be sumptuous before the engine of the M1 with the 46 decided to give in like that of the 99 during the warm-up. Two engines in one day at Yamaha, this is an assessment that we will assess in Iwata. With the Doctor removed from the game, one could have imagined that nap time had just come. But MM93 kept us awake. Lining up the right laps for the finish, he then tried everything on Por Fuera, in the warm style that we know him. Tense trajectories, surprise attacks and physical contacts at more than 340 km/h. Everything happened there.
Lorenzo, in the battle, is not ungrateful and in the last meters, he took advantage of a slight imbalance of the RC213V with imperfect acceleration to blow the victory to his compatriot in the purest tradition of a joust of Moto3. Yamaha was thus relieved to collect its hundredth MotoGP victory.
The podium is completed by Iannone, disappointed with his failed start while Pedrosa proved once again too late. Dovizioso takes fifth place ahead of a Casa Particular in Viñales who was never in the running for the win and who also made a timid start. Smith is the best of the independents ahead of Petrucci. Aleix Espargaró and Pirro complete the top 10. Pol Espargaró takes the last point from fifteenth position. Loris Baz fell at the start of the race while colliding with Bautista and Miller.
In the championship, Lorenzo leads with 10 points ahead of Márquez but also already 37 on Red and 49 on Pedrosa.
Mugello – MotoGP, Race: Ranking
1. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 41m 36.535s
2. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 41m 36.554s
3. Andrea Iannone ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP) 41m 41.277s
4. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 41m 41.445s
5. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP) 41m 42.791s
6. Maverick Vinales ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 41m 45.205s
7. Bradley Smith GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 41m 49.875s
8. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Yakhnich (Desmosedici GP15) 41m 51.133s
9. Alex Espargaro ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 41m 55.178s
10. Michele Pirro ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP) 41m 58.833s
11. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 42m 4.471s
12. Hector Barbera ESP Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14.2) 42m 12.247s
13. Eugene Laverty IRL Aspar MotoGP Team (Desmosedici GP14.2) 42m 14.567s
14. Stefan bradl GER Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 42m 16.629s
15. Espargaro Pol ESP Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 42m 36.346s
16. Yonny Hernandez COL Aspar MotoGP Team (Desmosedici GP14.2) 42m 40.932s
Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) DNF
Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac Yakhnich (Desmosedici GP15) DNF
Jack Miller AUS Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) DNF
Alvaro Bautista ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) DNF
Loris Baz FRA Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14.2) DNF
