Francesco Bagnaia fights back from poor start to dominate the Italian MotoGP

Starting from pole position for the first time in his MotoGP career, rookie Fabio Di Giannantonio made a superb start as he led into turn one.

Also on the front row of a MotoGP grid for the first time, fellow Ducati rider Marco Bezzecchi made an equally good start, however, it was Luca Marini who looked the most comfortable.

Marini quickly got through on Bezzecchi before lining up a move on Di Giannantonio at turn six, an overtake he completed with ease.

Set for a step back from racing after the Italian MotoGP - Marc Marquez has a fourth operation on his right shoulder scheduled next week - the Repsol Honda rider made a late change from a soft rear tyre to the medium, as did Di Giannantonio.

All other Honda’s elected for the soft rear, but it was Marquez on the medium that had the best opening few laps. Starting 12th, Marquez was up to ninth come the end of lap three. 

Marquez’s start, although good, was nothing compared to that of Brad Binder as the KTM rider  came from 16th to eighth in the space of three laps. 

Prior to lap three Aleix Espargaro put a hard move on Quartararo at turn six as he pushed the Yamaha rider wide. 

The reigning world champion was able to hold on to fifth before a response came on the following lap.

Now ahead of Espargaro, Quartararo set about challenging the top three, which he did after getting ahead of Di Giannantonio and Marini.

However, Quartararo’s charge was stopped by Francesco Bagnaia, the fastest rider on-track. 

Mugello MotoGP records broken by Ducati…

As Bagnaia set a new all-time race lap record, fellow Ducati rider Jorge Martin also set a new top speed record - 226mph!

With 16 laps remaining Suzuki suffered their second double DNF in as many races as Mir was first to crash out. Seconds later and Alex Rins was out after crashing at turn 12.

With Mir and Rins’ title challenge all-but over, Bagnaia’s was being relit as he made a move for the lead at turn one. 

Bagnaia immediately set about breaking the top five as Bezzecchi came under pressure from Quartararo. 

With Bagnaia’s lead creeping towards the one second margin, Quartararo pounced on Bezzecchi for second, but the Italian was giving up without a fight. 

The Ducati’s incredible top speed was keeping the rookie right behind Quartararo, as was the case with team-mate Marini. 

But as Quartararo held off the young Italian’s challenge, a challenge that was repeatedly coming at turn one, Espargaro made yet more progress after getting past Marini for fourth. 

There was more drama with 10 laps to go as Bastianini, who had clawed his way back onto the back of podium battle, crashed at turn four.  

With Quartararo pulling further and further ahead of Bezzecchi, Espargaro knew he had to get through on the Ducati rider, which he did. 

As the battle for second began to settle down, a late charge for the lead then started as Quartararo was closing in on Bagnaia, particularly in sector three. 

But with three laps to go, Bagnaia responded as he went 0.3s faster than the M1 rider.