13:14
Acosta vs Marquez
Acosta passed Marquez at the final corner because Marquez can't change direction well at Biondetti, but the Ducati speed is superior on the straight and Marquez reclaims it. Aldeguer right with them, too.
Marco Bezzecchi, 2026 MotoGP Italian Grand Prix. Credit: Gold and Goose.
© Gold & Goose
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MotoGP Mugello LIVE UPDATES as Pecco Bagnaia leads early stages
Live coverage from race at the 2026 MotoGP Italian Grand Prix from the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello.
Live updates from the race at the 2026 MotoGP Italian Grand Prix at Mugello. The Italian Grand Prix is due to start this afternoon at 14:00 local time
Key Moments
- Bagnaia takes the lead on lap three
- Bezzecchi leads first laps
- Fernandez wide at turn one
- Marco Bezzecchi starts on pole
Marco Bezzecchi starts today's race from pole position. He blew the Sprint yesterday from pole at the first corner, braking too early.
The Italian holds a 12-point championship lead over Jorge Martin heading into today's Italian Grand Prix after the Spaniard finished second yesterday from third on the grid. Martin was beaten by Raul Fernandez, who took his first Sprint win and starts from second today, and the 2024 champion said he would study Fernandez's data overnight to try to improve for today.
Fabio Di Giannantonio was the Ducati rider to prevent an all-Aprilia podium yesterday from seventh on the grid. He'll start there again today, and curiously was the only rider to use a soft-compound rear tyre in Warm Up this morning. Bezzecchi had mentioned yesterday that a soft rear could be an option today because the pace will be slower than in the Sprint, which was won with a medium-compound rear tyre.
Behind Bezzecchi yesterday was Marc Marquez who admitted afterwards that he's "not enjoying" this weekend as he's running out of energy after several laps in a row.
Francesco Bagnaia has been good at times this weekend but was underwhelming yesterday, qualifying sixth and finishing seventh; he blamed the Sprint result on a poor start.
Outside of the dominating Italian factories, KTM is the most promising manufacturer, although Pedro Acosta was only ninth yesterday, saying the RC16 riders "just have to survive". It was a similarly downbeat tune from Maverick Vinales, although he was pleased enough to be physically able to push the bike enough to discover the areas he needs to work on with it.
Diogo Moreira was the standout surprise yesterday, despite finishing 10th, after he spent the opening laps of the race towards the front of the field for the first time as a MotoGP rider. The Brazilian explained afterwards that it was a good learning experience, and that he relished the chance to pass Marc Marquez.
31 May 2026
13:13
Raul Fernandez went wide at the first turn at the start and was more or less last. He's up to 11th now, but almost 7s off the lead.
13:10
Battle for fourth between Marquez and Acosta is heating up fairly well. They're almost a second behind the podium now.
13:10
Lap 4/23
Bagnaia with 0.3s over Bezzecchi, Martin now another 0.7s back.
13:08
Big moment for Martin entering Biondetti, lost a lot of time in that but stays third ahead of Marquez and Acosta.
13:07
Bagnaia leads
Bagnaia leads on the run to turn one, Bezzecchi back to second.
Front six all together still with Marquez, Acosta, and Aldeguer on the back of the group.
13:05
Martin wide
Bagnaia up to second at turn one as Martin runs wide trying to pass Bezzecchi.
13:04
That didn't last, Bezzecchi back to the front at turn four.
Bagnaia third, then Marquez.
13:03
Race start
It's lights out in Mugello and we are underway for the Italian Grand Prix.
Bezzecchi braked too early yesterday but too late today, he's second behind Martin.
13:00
Warm-up lap
Riders are off on their warm-up lap ahead of the Italian Grand Prix.
Confirmation that everyone has chosen the medium-medium combination.
12:53
Special liveries for some teams today, including this stunner from Pramac.
12:51
Tyres
Bezzecchi said yesterday that the soft compound rear tyre was not necessarily out of consideration for today's 23-lap race. Fabio Di Giannantonio also used a soft-compound rear tyre in Warm Up this morning.
However, at present at least, everyone has chosen medium-compound front tyres and medium-compound rear tyres. No divergence.
12:49
Championship picture
Marco Bezzecchi currently leads the championship, of course. His advantage is 12 points over Jorge Martin after yesterday's results, but beating the Spaniard must be a priority for Bezzecchi today - the finishing fourth in the Sprint means the Italian still hasn't beaten Martin in a race the 2024 champion has not crashed in since Bezzecchi was second in Jerez.
The Italian is also without a grand prix win since his Texas win in March.
Fabio Di Giannantonio is also in touch, 25 points behind Bezzecchi after finishing third yesterday.
Reigning champion Marc Marquez is returning to racing this weekend and was fifth yesterday. He's now 86 points behind Bezzecchi.
12:45
Conditions
Hot conditions today in Mugello, especially track temperature which is at 49C at the moment. Air temperature at 27C with 15 minutes to go before the start.
12:34
Sighting lap
Pit lane is open in Mugello and the riders are heading to the grid ahead of the Italian Grand Prix.
12:30
Starting order
The penalty for Marini means he starts 19th today. Full starting order for the Italian Grand Prix is below.
| 1 | Marco Bezzecchi | ITA | Aprilia Racing | Aprilia RS-GP |
| 2 | Raul Fernandez | ESP | Trackhouse Racing | Aprilia RS-GP |
| 3 | Jorge Martin | ESP | Aprilia Racing | Aprilia RS-GP |
| 4 | Marc Marquez | ESP | Ducati Lenovo Team | Ducati GP26 |
| 6 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Lenovo Team | Ducati GP26 |
| 7 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | ITA | Pertamina Enduro VR46 | Ducati GP26 |
| 8 | Fermin Aldeguer | ESP | Gresini Racing | Ducati GP25 |
| 8 | Diogo Moreira | BRA | Pro Honda LCR | Honda RC213V |
| 9 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Pertamina Enduro VR46 | Ducati GP25 |
| 10 | Pedro Acosta | ESP | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | KTM RC16 |
| 11 | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Red Bull KTM Tech3 | KTM RC16 |
| 12 | Alex Rins | ESP | Monster Energy Yamaha | Yamaha YZR-M1 |
| 13 | Ai Ogura | JPN | Trackhouse Racing | Aprilia RS-GP |
| 14 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | KTM RC16 |
| 15 | Joan Mir | ESP | Honda HRC Castrol | Honda RC213V |
| 16 | Jack Miller | AUS | Prima Alpine Pramac Yamaha | Yamaha YZR-M1 |
| 17 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Energy Yamaha | Yamaha YZR-M1 |
| 18 | Maverick Vinales | ESP | Red Bull KTM Tech3 | KTM RC16 |
| 19 | Luca Marini | ITA | Honda HRC Castrol | Honda RC213V |
| 20 | Toprak Razgatlioglu | TUR | Prima Alpine Pramac Yamaha | Yamaha YZR-M1 |
| 21 | Michele Pirro | ITA | Gresini Racing | Ducati GP25 |
| 22 | Cal Crutchlow | GBR | LCR Honda Castrol | Honda RC213V |
12:24
Marini accepts penalty
Luca Marini was penalised three grid positions yesterday for slowing on the exit of the final corner when entering pit lane in FP2.
Marini said yesterday after qualifying that he "accepts" the penalty after it was explained to him that he should've signalled to riders behind that he was entering the pits by sticking his leg out.
Full story here.
Luca Marini, 2026 Italian MotoGP.
© Gold and Goose
12:10
Welcome to live coverage of today's Italian MotoGP race, which is due to get underway at Mugello in around 50 minutes at 14:00 local time.