Triple for the reigning world champion! Bagnaia wins MotoGP sprint for third time this season, Ducati machines take top five positions at Mugello

After a four-week spring break, the MotoGP series arrived at the traditional Mugello circuit in Tuscany, Italy. Saturday’s programme culminated in a sprint race, which was won by the home factory Ducati. Out of a total of nine machines, only the manufacturer’s motorcycles reached the finish line in the top five. This group was brought under the chequered flag by none other than reigning World Champion Francesco Bagnaia, who scored his third sprint triumph in six attempts this year!

If anyone was hoping that the almost month-long break from racing would get the other factories to put some heat under the boiler for the Ducati machines, they must have been partially disappointed by the morning’s qualifying. Although riders from three different teams were grouped on the front row, it was once again Ducati, or rather Francesco Bagnaia, on pole position.

The Italian rode to his third qualifying victory of the year. Next to him was eight-time world champion Marc Márquez on the factory Honda. Third position on the grid was once again occupied by Ducati, the machine of Álex Márquez, Marc’s younger brother. A total of five Ducatis spread across the top seven positions.

Bagnaia held the lead on the run into the first corner of San Donato. However, a collision occurred in the tight right-hander between Álex Márquez and Brad Binder on the rocket-starting KTM.

This collision brought negative consequences for both riders. Márquez ended up in the pits and Binder was punished with a long lap penalty by the race directorate. The South African can at least take solace in the fact that he recorded a record speed of 366.1 km/h during the sprint!

A few tens of seconds after the start, however, the weather threatened when a number of raindrops appeared on the camera glass. These visibly affected the pace of leader Bagnaiy, who lost his lead to Martin. The leading group, comprising almost half of the starting field, suddenly bunched up considerably and it was a matter of waiting to see how the situation would develop over the next few minutes.

In the end, it was just a matter of drops, and all eleven laps of the sprint were ridden in dry conditions. Bagnaia reclaimed the top spot on the third lap and didn’t let anyone else take it until the end. Behind him, there was contact between Jack Miller on the KTM and Marc Márquez, who dropped to seventh after a sharp overtaking manoeuvre by the Australian.

At the front, a group of four Ducati pilots led by Bagnaia formed after a brief rain episode. Although they were virtually separated by the end of the sprint, there were no outright battles. US VC winner Álex Rins still retired from the race with four laps to go.

Bagnaia went on to take his third sprint win of Saturday ahead of Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martín. The trio are exactly in line for the top three spots in the standings. Johann Zarco and Luca Marini, stablemates of the third and second men respectively, rounded out the top 5.

Results of the MotoGP Italian Grand Prix sprint (11 laps = 57.7 km; top 10 only):

1. Francesco Bagnaia (Ita., Ducati) 19::41.183
2. Marco Bezzecchi (Ita., Ducati) +0.369
3. Jorge Martín (Span., Ducati) +0.952
4. Johann Zarco (Fra., Ducati) +1.009
5. Luca Marini (Ita., Ducati) +3.668
6. Jack Miller (Aus., KTM) +3.772
7. Marc Márquez (Span., Honda) +3.905
8. Aleix Espargaró (Span., Aprilia) +6.062
9. Enea Bastianini (Ita., Ducati) +6.431
10. Fabio Quartararo (Fra., Yamaha) +6.458

2023 MotoGP rider standings (top 10 only):

1. Francesco Bagnaia (Ita., Ducati) 106
2. Marco Bezzecchi (Ita., Ducati) 102
3. Jorge Martín (Spa., Ducati) 87
4. Brad Binder (RJA, KTM) 81
5. Johann Zarco (Fra., Ducati) 72
6. Luca Marini (Ita., Ducati) 59
7. Jack Miller (Aus., KTM) 53
8. Maverick Viñales (Span., Aprilia) 49
9. Fabio Quartararo (Fra., Yamaha) 49
10. Álex Rins (Span., Honda) 47

Source: MotoGP