2019 MotoGP
Round Six – Mugello
MotoGP Rider Quotes

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Danilo Petrucci – P1

“I really wanted this victory and when I realized the pace at the front wasn’t too fierce and I was able to manage my rhythm in the leading group, I told myself it was the right time to go for it. I tried to control the race by staying in the lead to avoid the risk of losing too many positions in the battle, dictating the pace to preserve the energies and the tyres for the final rush. I was a bit worried about the slipstream as we entered the final lap, but I managed to brake really deep and find a small gap between Andrea and Marc to retake the lead, then I simply pushed as hard as I could until the checkered flag. A good chunk of this win came thanks to Andrea, who took me under his wing this winter and gave so many precious tips. Now we’ll keep fighting together for the championship.”

Marc Marquez – P2

“Today was time to defend, and we did it in the best way we could because usually this is not one of our best circuits. I stayed calm and waited to try something in the last lap. I was able to try but I missed the apex on the first corner and then both Ducati overtook me. Petrucci rode very well at the front today, congratulations to him. My goal was to finish in front of Dovizioso and Rins and we did this so I’m happy. Also congratulations to my brother Alex, he had a great race today too. As always, thanks to the Repsol Honda Team as they have worked hard to allow us to fight for victory here.”

Andrea Dovizioso – P3

“It’s been a really exciting race, as it’s often the case here at Mugello. Until the very last lap, everything went to plan. I got off to a great start and I put myself in a good position to manage the tyres, staying always within the top three despite the many overtakes in the leading group. My plan was to seize the lead at the beginning of the last lap, but I had to pick up the bike out of turn one to avoid contact and I lost positions and points. I’m a bit disappointed because of that, but also very happy for Danilo, who really deserved this win. It would have been better to score a one-two finish, but Márquez was very competitive also here. As for us, we struggled a bit early on in the weekend but once again we managed to stay in contention until the very end during the race. We want more and we’ll keep working to improve.”

Alex Rins – P4

“I don’t think I could have had a better result with a better grid position, I recovered a lot of places on the first lap, but I was losing a lot of time on the straight. We knew it would be a tricky part of the track for us, and it’s a bit of a pity. But I gave 100% and pushed really hard, I tried to pass Dovizioso on the last corner, but he had a bit more traction than me. Anyway, I’m happy with this 4th and it all helps with the championship!”

Takaaki Nakagami – P5

“It was an amazing day and an amazing race. I was really strong from the start and I know that this is a weak point for me. In all the races after a couple of laps I’ve dropped positions and then fight back in the middle and at the end. But today, I was really strong at the beginning of the race and then tried to keep the position. At the end I knew that (Maverick) Vinales was really pushing hard, but I never gave up and fought hard. It’s the best result for me, I was the second Honda and fifth place is amazing. I didn’t expect it, it’s a fantastic weekend for me and I want to thank the team who did a really great job all weekend, the bike worked really well.”

Maverick Vinales – P6

“Today I struggled a lot. I had no feeling with the bike during the race and the tyres were very slippery. I tried to push in the correct way and manage the tyres in the best way I could, but anyway it wasn’t enough. I don’t think we should be on the level of getting sixth places, we need to push more. I really don’t know what to expect for Montmeló. For sure, during the practices we can be there, but in the race it’s a different story. Our bike suffers a lot when we don’t have grip. So, we need to keep working to see if we can improve the feeling and take steps forward.”

Michele Pirro – P7

“The most important thing is that we won again at Mugello, for the third time in a row, because we couldn’t take it for granted. As for me, I’m a bit disappointed because today during the race my Desmosedici GP was really competitive, but unfortunately I faced an issue with my forearm in the early laps, which slowed me down. Then, I simply tried to stay calm and I managed to climb back to seventh. I want to thank Ducati because, after last year’s big crash on this track, we’ve done a great job together and I’m confident I’ll be back to top form soon.”

Cal Crutchlow – P8

“Today was a very difficult day, quite possibly my worst race of the season. Again I was in the front group, but then got dropped from the front group which has not normally happened to me in previous years. I had a bad feeling with the bike when I was changing direction, which was happening all weekend, and I was not able to be competitive in that area. Then with about 14 laps remaining I felt a big drop in the rear tyre and was unable to keep my pace throughout the rest of the race. After the race we assessed the situation with the team and Michelin and found an unusual rubber wear on the rear tyre. So we’ll continue to evaluate it and I’m sure Michelin will investigate why this happened. I’m pleased to finish and get some points on a tough day, but that’s not where I need to finish at all.”

Pol Espargaro – P9

“We knew our position would be around 7-10 and we were not expecting these temperatures. With the Medium tyre we were in a very low grip situation and we knew our job would be a little bit harder. I was fighting a lot at the beginning of the race with [Franco] Morbidelli, [Alex] Rins even and [Fabio] Quartararo. It was hard, hot and with many changes of direction. It was a physical track and we saw many riders by the end were dropping and we could keep our pace. Anyway we were fourteen seconds faster in our total race time in 2018 and in the end I think we can be happy.”

Fabio Quartararo – P10

“I struggled right from the beginning. My start wasn’t bad, but I did a small wheelie that made me lose several positions. As the race progressed, the front tyre pressure increased a lot and unfortunately I couldn’t find a good feeling with the front. Our pace during the weekend was good, but we couldn’t get a great result. The goal is to be the best rookie, and today we achieved that. I don’t want to rush and I want to go step-by-step. Now we are going to Barcelona, which is one of my favourite circuits and I can’t wait to ride there with a MotoGP bike.”

Aleix Espargaro – P11

“I started well, but unfortunately, during the first lap Zarco made some pretty bold contact, causing me to lose time. In terms of pace, I had plenty to battle with Pol and Pirro in the top 10, but despite feeling very good today, I struggled to overtake. It’s a pity. Without the initial contact, a top-ten finish would most certainly have been within our potential. The conditions were demanding today. It was very hot and there wasn’t much grip and, considering our starting position, the 20-second gap behind the leader is a good result.”

Joan Mir – P12

“I’m glad to pick up some points today, even if it wasn’t in the position that I wanted or that I felt I could achieve with my potential this weekend. The touch between Valentino and I cost me around seven seconds, and that’s what prevented me from getting a Top 10 finish. Anyway, I want to thank the team for all the great work done this weekend, I feel good and I know the results will come.”

Jorge Lorenzo – P13

“Today was more or less what we expected. I didn’t have the pace and wasn’t as comfortable on the bike to be more competitive. We made a change in the Warm Up and it improved some areas. Not better or worse than we expected but neither myself nor Honda give up on making progress and finding a solution together. Now I will go to Japan to work with Honda on some improvements to come back stronger.”

Karel Abraham – P14

”To be honest the race was almost what I expected. I knew that we are capable to fight for the point today I knew we were strong same as Le Mans but it didn´t work. But I know also very well that the conditions changed for the race today, the track was hot, the air was hot this means it will be a lot more difficult for the tyres, for the bike but also for the rider. For me especially because I do not like hot conditions. After the start of the race it was not very good in identity very well with the tyres, because the front and the rear was slaiding quite a lot. But after a 4 laps I took the confidence and the bike work better. And I stay to overtake everybody. The race was very hard. I knew my tyres were dropping specially in the end but I could see everybody stay was dropping because I start to catch the otherones. So I was very good finally we made 2 points I think we deserve because we work really hard all weekend. And all my team we deserve the points, thank you very much to everyone. I´m super happy we ended finally the weekend like this.”

Andrea Iannone – P15

“I am rather satisfied, especially with the pace in the early part of the race. Starting so far behind, I was able to battle and make up a lot of ground, even on Aleix who is certainly my point of reference. Unfortunately, on the final laps with Mir and Zarco, we held one another up, losing time and also letting those who were behind us get close. This was clearly not the Mugello I expected, but our goal is long-term – to get to know the bike better and better and to develop it.”

Johann Zarco – P16

“I wanted a bit more consistency so I chose the Soft tyre but by the end it was finished. I wanted to be able to fight at the beginning and understand what my opponents can do better than me or not. I was able to get some good information even though I suffered at the end of the race and I finished slowly. We know we are suffering and I must wait to have some new things on the bike. I know I need to change my style but even by trying to do this I have the same limits as before. We can only get better from here and now I have six months experience. I think the team has good information for the way to work.”

Miguel Oliveira – P17

“It was a tough race in the beginning and hard to manage the bike with the full fuel tank. Then I started to find my pace and it was quite OK. The last five laps where very difficult again as I was missing grip and I could not manage to attack the points scoring positions. But, in general, the gap to the front was not too big and also the one to Pol was not huge. After the tough weekend, I think we didn’t expect to be so competitive in the race, so it was positive.”

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Jack Miller – DNF

“It was a very exciting race. I was with the front group and it was a fantastic battle. The feeling with the bike was very good and I started to push after seeing Petrucci and Marquez trying to make the gap. I tried to overtake Rins but then I crashed.”

Pecco Bagnaia – DNF

“It’s a shame we couldn’t finish the race. Our goal was to stay in the Top 10 and the race pace was very good. I am still satisfied because in the last three races we have made great steps forward. We’ll try again in Barcelona.”

Valentino Rossi – DNF

“It was a very difficult weekend, because I was always very slow. We expected to be more competitive, so it was difficult to manage. We also made some mistakes in the practice: I made a mistake in FP3 and because of it I started very far towards the back of the grid. In the race, my pace wasn’t fantastic. I tried to overtake Mir, but he tried to defend his position, and unfortunately we touched. Luckily, we didn’t crash, but we went onto the gravel. After that I tried to push to recover and I lost the front and crashed, so it’s a bad end to a difficult weekend, especially since it’s in Mugello. But that’s the way it is. We will try to do better.”

Franco Morbidelli – DNF

“I had a good start for the first few metres, but then I lost a lot of ground for some reason. After that I started to recover, and little-by-little I felt faster. However, on the sixth lap I made a mistake on the last corner and I lost the front end. It was a shame because I was going fast, and I think I could have fought for a place in the top five. It’s been a good weekend in any case. We suffered on Friday but we were fast on Saturday, and at least over the first five or six laps today we showed great potential. I’m looking forward to the Catalan GP.”

Hafizh Syahrin – DNF

“I felt very good with the bike in the beginning of the race but in Turn 9 I had a huge low side and was lucky to save this. I tried to push again but couldn’t find the same feeling as in the beginning. I wanted to do more laps but with this feeling it was impossible not to go down, so I decided to retire. It’s a pity, especially because I’m convinced that we could have scored points here but sometimes this just happens. Even if this was not our day and I’m truly sorry for everybody, we keep working hard for the next race. Barcelona is my favourite track, so I will for sure give more than 100 percent again.”

Tito Rabat – DNF

”Happy because we have found the way with the bike, because we can be competitive and fight with the best but frustrated by the problem today. Now we just have to think about Montmeló.”

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MotoGP Team Managers

Claudio Domenicali – CEO of Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.

“Winning is always fantastic, but to do it here at Mugello really has a special meaning. It’s our home race, and on this wonderful track we can always count on the support of so many people from our company and thousands of passionate ducatisti. Until a few laps to go, we had as many as four bikes fighting for top positions. Danilo probably had a bit of an edge today, but both our factory riders fought for the win until the very last inch and I believe that Andrea deserves part of the credit for this victory, as he was the first to highlight Danilo’s potential and he took him under his wing, doing a really excellent job.”

Luigi Dall’Igna – Ducati Corse General Manager

“We all must be proud of the work done, because winning three times in a row at Mugello, in front of so many Ducati fans, is a dream come true. Danilo was really phenomenal, he rode a fantastic last lap, with an incredible pass at the beginning, and I’m really happy he took his maiden MotoGP win at his home race. I’m sorry for Andrea, who couldn’t pass Márquez back before the checkered flag, but he rode a fantastic race as well and a podium is always a great result. I want to congratulate myself with all three of them, because they really put on a show.”

Ken Kawauchi – Suzuki Technical Manager

“Alex did an excellent job considering the grid position yesterday, he put together a great race. I want to apologise to him because it was hard to keep up with the others on the long straight, we have improved the bike and we will continue to work hard for this. Joan picked up some points today and he did a very good race, without the runoff it could have been even better, so we’re happy with the work he did today.”

Davide Brivio – Suzuki Team Manager

“Alex did a really great race, recovering so well from 13th position on the grid. We’re slightly disappointed for him, because he did everything he could, and it was not enough to stay right with the others. But we know how competitive we are, and there are some other circuits which will suit us better. Anyway, we’re really pleased with this 4th place. Joan started from 20th and he did a great job, getting into points scoring positions, until he had the coming together with Valentino which cost him a lot. But he did so well to recover 12th place. It’s been positive for both riders today.”

Mike Leitner – Red Bull KTM Team Manager

“A top ten was the target for us and we achieved that here with Pol, which was very good. A positive point was that the bike had good potential all weekend. Mugello and Barcelona have been difficult tracks for us in the past and with our current package, so to make the top ten so far is very good. With Johann we made some improvement on Friday but he crashed on Saturday and took a gamble with tyre choice for the race, and the Soft rear could not stay until the end. We’ll be looking forward to trying for another top ten in Catalunya.”

Massimo Meregalli – Yamaha MotoGP Team Director

“Naturally we are very disappointed. We knew this weekend was going to be really difficult, but we had higher hopes for our team‘s home GP than the results we got today. We have to give credit to Maverick though. His start was far from ideal, but he fought his way back to sixth, which was realistically the best could do, considering his race pace. Valentino had a nightmare of a day… It was going to be hard starting from 18th on the grid, but the incidents on track ended his race. All in all, it’s a GP to forget for him. We as a team, however, will be doing the opposite: we have to learn from this and find something for the next race in Catalunya in two weeks‘ time.”

Hervé Poncharal – Red Bull KTM Team Manager

“To finish a weekend without a point, is always a disappointment, because this is a reward for the hard work of the whole team and the riders. But still I believe, we did a good weekend. We were quite competitive in the race. Hafizh had a big moment and that was a real shame, because until then, that was for sure the best start of the year for him and he could have been fighting for points, but unfortunately lost the front, he tried to stay on track, but was close to crash. He aimed to carry on a bit more, but lost the front a few more times and I understand his idea that is was safer to come in, but it was a huge disappointment as it was by far the best Hafizh we saw since the beginning of the year. Miguel was lapping really consistently. We knew he would be strong all race long, because I think the tyre choice was the best one. We passed quite a few guys, including Johann Zarco and for a part of the race, we were in the points, but unfortunately Abraham was a bit quicker in the end and passed us, which didn’t allow us to score that point, that would have been a decent end to a quite constructive weekend. Nevertheless, we have to remember that the Warm Up crash didn’t help, so for sure, in the early part of the race Miguel was a bit cautious. He’s got a small injury on a finger of his left hand. Ok, this is not, what we want to do, but we were not too far. We saw that Pol Espargaro could finish in front of some top factory guys, so we need to keep on working. Today we finished second of the KTM MotoGP department. Overall, we have mixed feelings, but let’s take the positive ones, gather all the information we have and get more confidence and head to Barcelona with a good feeling, where hopefully we can score points with both of our guys.”

Razlan Razali – Petronas SRT Team Principal

“In MotoGP we have mixed feelings about the race today. Franco Morbidelli was doing very well, until he crashed, but we are happy with his performance. We’re also happy with the tenth position for Fabio Quartararo, because the goal for him is still to be the best rookie in the class. Clearly we weren’t able to match the fastest bikes on the straight today, but we move on and take the positives. We have learned a lot and we have seen our two riders riding with the frontrunners. Now we have to prepare for Catalonia.”

Wilco Zeelenberg – Petronas SRT Team Manager

“We’ve learned a lot from today’s race. In this World Championship there are at least 15 riders who can fight for the podium. In practice we are clearly part of that group, but we have to be realistic. We finished tenth with Fabio and Franco crashed. We were in the group, but we weren’t able to fight until the end. It’s good to have picked up points and I think we showed good performance in practice, but we must improve in the race.”

Piero Taramasso – Michelin

“Today was a fantastic spectacle to what has been both a very tough, but also extremely rewarding weekend. The whole array of tyres were used in the practices and five of the compounds were raced today. The track was in poor condition compared to last year, but the tyres all worked well and we had some very fast lap-times, plus a new outright lap-record, the fastest speed from a MotoGP bike and the race was 10-seconds quicker than last year. We have learned a lot though and will need to look at how the tyres behaved in the race and reassess the compounds for next season to take into account the extra abrasiveness. Overall we are very pleased and now we head to Catalunya for another important race and a test on the Monday where we will be trying some tyres for 2020.”

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Pos.	Rider	Bike	Time/Gap
1	Danilo Petrucci	Ducati	41’33.794
2	Marc Marquez	Honda	0.043
3	Andrea Dovizioso	Ducati	0.338
4	Alex Rins	Suzuki	0.535
5	Takaaki Nakagami	Honda	6.535
6	Maverick Viñales	Yamaha	7.481
7	Michele Pirro	Ducati	13.288
8	Cal Crutchlow	Honda	13.937
9	Pol Espargaro	KTM	16.533
10	Fabio Quartararo	Yamaha	17.994
11	Aleix Espargaro	Aprilia	20.523
12	Joan Mir	Suzuki	20.544
13	Jorge Lorenzo	Honda	20.813
14	Karel Abraham	Ducati	27.298
15	Andrea Iannone	Aprilia	28.051
16	Miguel Oliveira	KTM	30.101
17	Johann Zarco	KTM	41.857

Not Classified
DNF	Jack Miller	Ducati	8 Laps
DNF	Francesco Bagnaia	Ducati	12 Laps
DNF	Hafizh Syahrin	KTM	14 Laps
DNF	Valentino Rossi	Yamaha	16 Laps
DNF	Franco Morbidelli	Yamaha	18 Laps
Not Finished 1st Lap
DNF	Tito Rabat	Ducati	0 Lap

Source: MCNews.com.au

2019 MotoGP
Round Six – Mugello
MotoGP Race Results / Report

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There’s a new Grand Prix winner in town: Danilo Petrucci (Mission Winnow Ducati), on his 124th start in the premier class, has taken to the top step for the first time after a near-perfect performance to give Ducati their third win in a row at Mugello, holding off reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) to cross the line just 0.043 clear at the chequered flag.

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Mugello MotoGP Race Report

It was Marquez who took the holeshot from pole, but the headline-grabber as the lights went out was Dovizioso as the Italian shot off the line from P9 with a perfect start and was into a stunning third – behind Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) – into Turn 1.

Petrucci dropped to fifth, the two Petronas Yamaha SRTs of Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli also lost out, and Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) moved up.

Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) was also on the move, threading his way into the fight at the front after starting in 13th. At the front though, it only took one lap for Dovizioso and Petrucci to tag onto the back of Marquez as they swooped through on Crutchlow in quick succession.

The question was, could the reigning Champion bolt? And the answer was no. It remained a train of riders at the front, with nine within two seconds, but home eyes were also trained elsewhere as Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) ran on, as did rookie Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar), and the two were forced into a quick trip across the gravel – rejoining at the back.

The race was on and Mir would recover for points, but it ended early for the ‘Doctor’ as he then slid out of contention at Turn 9 – a tough end to a tough weekend.

Back at the front though, the fight was feisty and slowly but surely, a front quintet of Petrucci, Marquez, Dovizioso, Miller and Rins were able to pull away. Drama then hit Miller though as he suddenly crashed out – not long after teammate Francesco Bagnaia had done the same – and then there were four.

That was how it would remain, with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) the next man down the road but the Japanese rider unable to close in. With five laps to go there was nothing between the foursome, and despite the chopping and changing, it was Petrucci who’d been at the front since Lap 11 to assert some authority on his charge at the win – with ‘DesmoDovi’ then taking over from Marquez in second.

Sure enough, the number 04 struck against his teammate at Turn 1 with four to go, but he couldn’t pull away – and Petrucci soon hit back. He held on in the lead next time around into San Donato too, and again, until the high speed chess game arrived at the final lap.

Dovizioso slipstreamed past his team-mate on the final full speed dash down the straight, but Marquez did one better and managed to take both, the Honda man ahead into Turn 1 for the final time. But he headed a little wide and Dovizioso took the inside line – but he was wide as well.

Enter Petrucci, with the number 9 spotting the gap and slicing past both as Dovi had to then sit up and cede second to Marquez.

The task for ‘Petrux’ was then easier said than done: defend the lead of his first home Grand Prix in factory colours from the most notorious last lap lunger. But that’s what he did.

He needed the lap of his life and that’s exactly what he delivered, just out of reach of Marquez and emerging from the final corner still ahead as Dovi tried to find a way past Marquez. But there wasn’t one, and the Turn 1 shuffle would prove decisive as Petrucci escaped Marquez who escaped Dovi on the run to the line – and the number 04 Ducati even came under threat from Rins into the final corner.

But the Suzuki man couldn’t stick with the Borgo Panigale power, and one of the races of the season saw Petrucci make some history, Marquez gaining a little ground in the Championship and Dovizioso forced to settle for third on his 300th Grand Prix start. For all his help and support, however, Petrucci did dedicate the win to his compatriot.

Behind Rins’ stellar ride to fourth, Nakagami pulled out an ace on race day to take his best ever premier class finish as he completed the top five – and as top Independent Team rider to boot.

Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) gained some ground late on to claim sixth, with wildcard Michele Pirro (Mission Winnow Ducati) a late mover as well as he came home seventh. Crutchlow slipped to eighth, with Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) taking P9 after another impressive weekend that included KTM’s highest finish in a Free Practice session and direct entry into Q2.

Fabio Quartararo, who lost out after his stunning qualifying session, crossed the line tenth but once again took home a good little haul of points to keep his supreme run in the fight for Rookie of the Year, with Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) taking P11 on Noale factory home turf. Mir recovered to 12th and got past Jorge Lorenzo (Repsol Honda Team), with Karel Abraham (Reale Avintia Racing) and Andrea Iannone (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) completing the points.

That’s it from the stunning Mugello, with Petrucci now a Grand Prix winner and arriving into the next race with his place in the Ducati history books secured.

The mission now for the Mission Winnow Ducati teammates? Stop Marquez. But it’s the reigning Champion’s turf up next and he arrives 12 points clear…don’t miss the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya in two weeks.

Mugello MotoGP Race Results

Pos.	Rider	Bike	Time/Gap
1	Danilo Petrucci	Ducati	41’33.794
2	Marc Marquez	Honda	0.043
3	Andrea Dovizioso	Ducati	0.338
4	Alex Rins	Suzuki	0.535
5	Takaaki Nakagami	Honda	6.535
6	Maverick Viñales	Yamaha	7.481
7	Michele Pirro	Ducati	13.288
8	Cal Crutchlow	Honda	13.937
9	Pol Espargaro	KTM	16.533
10	Fabio Quartararo	Yamaha	17.994
11	Aleix Espargaro	Aprilia	20.523
12	Joan Mir	Suzuki	20.544
13	Jorge Lorenzo	Honda	20.813
14	Karel Abraham	Ducati	27.298
15	Andrea Iannone	Aprilia	28.051
16	Miguel Oliveira	KTM	30.101
17	Johann Zarco	KTM	41.857

Not Classified
DNF	Jack Miller	Ducati	8 Laps
DNF	Francesco Bagnaia	Ducati	12 Laps
DNF	Hafizh Syahrin	KTM	14 Laps
DNF	Valentino Rossi	Yamaha	16 Laps
DNF	Franco Morbidelli	Yamaha	18 Laps
Not Finished 1st Lap
DNF	Tito Rabat	Ducati	0 Lap

Moto2 Race Results / Report

Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) took back-to-back wins in the intermediate class for the first time in Mugello, with the Spaniard repeating his Le Mans pace to pull away into clear air in the lead and leave Italy only two points off the Championship lead. Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) put in an impressive performance on home turf to take his first podium of the season in second, with Tom Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) completing the podium.

It was Lüthi who took the holeshot from second on the grid, with he and teammate Marcel Schrötter taking control of the first few laps and trying to make a break for it. And that they did, initially, but after five laps Marquez, from third on the grid, was homing in and bringing Marini and Jorge Navarro (MB Conveyors Speed Up) along for the ride. The number 73 didn’t waste time getting past Schrötter, and Marini then duelled the German before making it stick.

That had given Lüthi and Marquez the chance to make a small break for it, just under a second clear, but Marquez had his eyes on the lead. Nine laps down, Marquez made it a Mugello classic as he slipstreamed Lüthi down the start finish straight and took over at the front at Turn 1.

From there he never looked back, pulling clear of those on the chase as Marini edged closer to Lüthi and eyed a move. Once past though, the clock was running out for the Italian and he couldn’t match Marquez, with the French GP winner crossing the line in clear air for another dominant win. For Marini though it marks a return to the podium for the first time this season, and the Sky Racing Team VR46 rider also said it marked a big turnaround in how he felt on the bike. Lüthi, ever-consistent, completed the podium to make it three riders now within four points at the top of the Championship.

The man still at the top of those standings despite a more difficult home Grand Prix than likely expected, Lorenzo Baldassarri (Flexbox HP 40), put together a brilliant recovery to move through from the fifth row to P4 by the flag. His teammate, Augusto Fernandez, was three tenths behind in fifth place, ahead of Italtrans Racing Team’s Enea Bastianini in sixth, a career best finish in Moto2 as he came home top rookie. Navarro and Schrötter eventually slipped back to seventh and eighth respectively, with Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (MB Conveyors Speed Up) rounded out the top ten despite the Italian being involved in some first lap drama and heading a little wide early on.

2017 winner Mattia Pasini (Petronas Sprinta Racing) took P12, with the points completed by Xavi Vierge (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), Remy Gardner and teammate Tetsuta Nagashima (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team), and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo).

That’s all she wrote at Mugello in the intermediate class, and it’s Marquez on a roll as we next head to his home round at Catalunya. Can he take over at the top on home turf and take the points lead from Baldassarri for the first time all year? Find out on June 9th.

Moto2 Race Results

Pos.	Rider	Bike	Time/Gap
1	Alex Marquez	Kalex	39’31.262
2	Luca Marini	Kalex	1.928
3	Thomas Luthi	Kalex	2.242
4	Lorenzo Baldassarri	Kalex	3.653
5	Augusto Fernandez	Kalex	3.973
6	Enea Bastianini	Kalex	3.985
7	Jorge Navarro	Speed Up	4.986
8	Marcel Schrotter	Kalex	6.215
9	Sam Lowes	Kalex	11.466
10	Fabio Di Giannantonio	Speed Up	13.05
11	Mattia Pasini	Kalex	13.934
12	Xavi Vierge	Kalex	17.176
13	Remy Gardner	Kalex	19.894
14	Tetsuta Nagashima	Kalex	20.055
15	Brad Binder	KTM	20.591
16	Jorge Martin	KTM	20.672
17	Dominique Aegerter	MV Agusta	24.081
18	Andrea Locatelli	Kalex	26.677
19	Bo Bendsneyder	NTS	36.831
20	Lukas Tulovic	KTM	41.874
21	Philipp Oettl	KTM	44.611
22	Steven Odendaal	NTS	45.131
23	Marco Bezzecchi	KTM	45.136
24	Dimas Ekky Pratama	Kalex	+1’01.819
25	Xavi Cardelus	KTM	+1’40.942
Not Classified
DNF	Joe Roberts	KTM	6 Laps
DNF	Jake Dixon	KTM	11 Laps
DNF	Simone Corsi	Kalex	13 Laps
DNF	Nicolo Bulega	Kalex	14 Laps
DNF	Stefano Manzi	MV Agusta	14 Laps
DNF	Teppei Nagoe	Kalex	17 Laps
Not Finished 1st Lap
DNF	Iker Lecuona	KTM	0 Lap

Moto3 Race Results / Report

There’s no place like home and in front of the loud, proud and partisan crowd at Mugello, polesitter Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers) pitched it to perfection to pip compatriot Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) to the line in the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley, winning his first Grand Prix by just 0.029 in a classic Moto3 melee. Behind the home duo, Jaume Masia (Bester Capital Dubai) left it late to make his charge for the front, completing the podium in third and still within hundredths of the win.

Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) got the best start off the front row, but Arbolino was quick to hit back and the Italian took over at the front through Turn 1 as Rodrigo headed a bit wide and the battle began. One serious mover off the start proved John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) as the Brit shot up from 17th on the grid into the top five, but as is always the case at Mugello it was a group affair at the front.

Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse), Rodrigo, Dalla Porta, McPhee and Arbolino were the key names at the sharp end as the squabbling began, but there was early heartbreak for one not long after as Rodrigo crashed out. That created a bit of breathing space for Dalla Porta, Arbolino and Suzuki but it didn’t take long for it to re-form into a group.

With 14 laps to go, Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) was the man on the move. Starting down in P18 after having his fastest Q2 lap cancelled on Saturday, the Italian had crossed the line at the end of Lap 1 even further down the order in P21. But lap by lap he moved forward, set a fastest lap and was the man leading the second group before breaking away from it and catching those ahead. At the same time, it looked like Dalla Porta had managed to break away in the lead although it wasn’t for long.Ttwo laps later Arbolino had reeled him in and it was game on with 18 riders in the freight train at the front.

Home heartbreak then hit for Migno and Romano Fenati (VNE Snipers) as they crashed out the group, before Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia) also went down and took Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing) with him. With three laps to go the front group had been whittled down further as eight riders broke free: Dalla Porta, Arbolino, Antonelli, McPhee, Dennis Foggia (Sky Racing Team VR46), Suzuki, Masia and Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), and the action ratcheted up a notch once again.

Masia made his serious lunge for the front at Turn 1 on the final lap, surging through to challenge for the lead from third but the man who’d led for much of the race – Dalla Porta – was ready to fight for it and reasserted his authority. But by the final sector Arbolino was clear of Masia too, and from there it was a classic Mugello drag to the line…

Pulling out just at the right time and side by side with Dalla Porta on the blast to the chequered flag, it was incredibly close but Arbolino just managed to edge ahead– ‘just’ translating into 0.29 on the timesheets. Masia took third just 0.078 back, with Antonelli gaining an incredible 14 places on his grid position to cross the line in P4 at his home Grand Prix and put in some serious damage limitation in the Championship.

Foggia completed the top five ahead of McPhee, with points leader Aron Canet losing some ground in the standings as he crossed the line in P7, ahead of Suzuki by the flag. Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) was top rookie and took ninth, ahead of Darryn Binder as the South African was one to lose out big when crashes shuffled the group.

Raul Fernandez (Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team) took P11, beating teammate Albert Arenas and Sergio Garcia (Estrella Galicia 0,0) in a three-way fight, with Jakub Kornfeil (Redox PrüstelGP) and Makar Yurchenko (BOE Skull Rider Mugen Race) completing the points.

Moto3 return at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in two weeks – will Canet keep the reins on home turf or will it be all change again? Six different winners in a row is the record so far in 2019…and it’s 11 stretching back to the flyaways last season.

Moto3 Race Results

Pos	Rider	Bike	Time/Gap
1	Tony Arbolino	Honda	39’29.874
2	Lorenzo Dalla Porta	Honda	+0.029
3	Jaume Masia	KTM	+0.078
4	Niccolò Antonelli	Honda	+0.156
5	Dennis Foggia	KTM	+0.267
6	John Mcphee	Honda	+0.403
7	Aron Canet	KTM	+0.559
8	Tatsuki Suzuki	Honda	+0.595
9	Celestino Vietti	KTM	+1.566
10	Darryn Binder	KTM	+1.597
11	Raul Fernandez	KTM	+2.519
12	Albert Arenas	KTM	+2.554
13	Sergio Garcia	Honda	+2.578
14	Jakub Kornfeil	KTM	+22.830
15	Makar Yurchenko	KTM	+26.669
16	Gerry Salim	Honda	+26.745
17	Ryusei Yamanaka	Honda	+26.777
18	Can Oncu	KTM	+26.779
19	Vicente Perez	KTM	+26.873
20	Filip Salac	KTM	+29.782
21	Riccardo Rossi	Honda	+51.331

Not Classified
DNF	Ayumu Sasaki	Honda	4 Laps
DNF	Kaito Toba	Honda	4 Laps
DNF	Andrea Migno	KTM	5 Laps
DNF	Romano Fenati	Honda	5 Laps
DNF	Marcos Ramirez	Honda	9 Laps
DNF	Tom Booth-Amos	KTM	11 Laps
DNF	Alonso Lopez	Honda	13 Laps
DNF	Kevin Zannoni	TM	13 Laps
DNF	Gabriel Rodrigo	Honda	17 Laps
DNF	Kazuki Masaki	KTM	18 Laps

Source: MCNews.com.au

2019 MotoGP
Round Six – Mugello
Qualifying Results / Report

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Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) played qualifying to perfection in the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley as the reigning Champion struck late to take his second pole position at Mugello and reassert some authority over ever-impressive rookie Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT), setting a new lap record in the process.

Nevertheless, Frenchman Quartararo will start his first premier class race at Mugello from second as both top Yamaha and top Independent Team rider, with Danilo Petrucci (Mission Winnow Ducati) completing the front row and flying the tricolore after a difficult day for a couple of his compatriots on home turf.

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Marc Marquez – P1

“It was a difficult Qualifying because it was different to other races and a bit hard to find space. With the first tyre I was ready to attack straight away but then Dovi slowed down so I overtook him and I lost some time there. Pirro was also trying to follow me for the slipstream so tactics were needed. With the second tyre we just followed our strategy and I found a good space with slipstream and I calculated the space to Dovi perfectly. The pole position is important but the most important part is being on the front row. There are a lot of opponents for tomorrow’s race!”

Fabio Quartararo – P2

“It was an incredible qualifying session! When I set a 1:45, I thought it was a very fast lap, but then I was able to repeat it. On my last lap I tried everything but I made some small mistakes. Nevertheless, we managed to finish on the front row. We feel really good with the bike, I’m very happy and our race pace is great. Tyre choice will be critical tomorrow. I love this circuit and I enjoy it a lot on a MotoGP bike. The bike corners very well and I feel very strong. I can’t wait.”

Danilo Petrucci – P3

“I’m very happy for this first row, because it was really important for us to make the most of our potential even during qualifying after posting the provisional new best lap in the morning. Before going out on track for Q2, my goal was to do a 1:45.8 and take first row, which is what actually happened, even though someone was able to do slightly better. I expect a tough race tomorrow, because I’m still not 100 percent fit due to a cold. After some laps I feel fatigued, but our pace seems competitive and the support of all the ducatisti in the grandstands will surely give me extra energy. It’ll be crucial to have a good start, then we’ll try to play our cards wisely.”

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It was a star-studded Q1 to begin deciding the grid, with Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), Andrea Dovizioso (Mission Winnow Ducati) and Jorge Lorenzo (Repsol Honda Team) all fighting it out to move through, and it was a nail-biter of a finale – for Dovizioso at least. On his final flying lap it was all or nothing for the 2017 Mugello winner, but he made it count to top wildcard and teammate Michele Pirro by just thousandths – knocking out Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), who therefore starts 13th.

But that’s better reading than it is for Lorenzo and Rossi, who line up in P17 and P18 respectively after not making it out of Q1 – 13 premier class wins at Mugello on Row 6.

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Jorge Lorenzo – P17

“We tried to improve the bike but we’re still missing that last piece or step and I’m struggling more than normal. Honda and myself are working hard together to find a solution to make me more comfortable on the bike but of course the rules limit what we can do. Tomorrow we will see what happens at this physical track.”

Valentino Rossi – P18

“This morning was quite a good practice. At the end I was on a good lap to get inside the top-10, but unfortunately I made a mistake in the last corner, and after that I had to go to Q1. In the afternoon, in FP4, I used a used tyre but, sincerely, I wasn’t very fast, so that’s when I realised it would be difficult to try to get into Q2. In Q1 we waited a bit and I took the chequered flag at the end. But anyway, I was too slow to get into Q2, unfortunately. Tomorrow we will try something different, because today – though we already improved the pace a lot compared to yesterday – it’s not enough. So in tomorrow’s Warm Up it will be very interesting to try to find something better. After that, the race will be hard, because I will start far towards the back and my pace is not fantastic. We need to stay concentrated, give the maximum, and try to take some points.”

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In Q2 then, Dovizioso had another shot – but it was Marquez who was back in the driving seat. After getting followed by Pirro the reigning Champion decided to turn the tables on Ducati in the latter half of the session and actually followed key rival Dovizioso on what would turn out to be his record-breaking pole lap – getting a good tow from the Borgo Panigale machine as the flag came out and able to depose Quartararo. The Frenchman topped FP4 but couldn’t quite eke out those final two tenths, and he didn’t get a tow to the line…

Petrucci then is the sole home hero on the front row, and he’s had some serious pace all weekend. Searching for his first win and with previous podium experience at the venue, he could be one to watch and will be joining Quartararo on the mission to overtake Marquez off the line and convert pace into podium.

Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) heads an all-Independent Team Row 2 ahead of Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) and Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol), with Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) in P7 and Friday’s fastest, rookie Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing), having a solid qualifying in P8 – just ahead of Dovizioso, who enjoyed a less solid day at the office. ‘DesmoDovi’ will need quite a start to try and get in the fight at the front from the off on Sunday – and it’s his 300th Grand Prix.

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Franco Morbidelli – P4

“I’m very happy with our performance today; I didn’t expect to be that fast. I had a good feeling in FP4, although not so much in our first time attack in Q2. I felt better in the second run and I was able to set a 1:45.9, which is a good time at this circuit. It’s a good starting position for tomorrow. Tyre management will be very difficult in the race. We have to study the choice of compounds well tonight and we must take care of the tyres very well during the race. I’m eager to race in front of the Italian fans and give them a good result.”

Jack Miller – P5

“I am quite satisfied also because the race pace is positive. We have also worked hard on the tyres and we have taken important data in view of tomorrow’s choice. In qualifying I was expecting a bit more but the second row is not bad”.

Cal Crutchlow – P6

“I feel good actually and definitely a lot better than I did yesterday. We decided to focus our work on one bike and one setting which was good, because we could adjust small things from there. I wanted to be a bit quicker, and down into the 1’45s because that would have been there. We’re half a second behind Marquez in qualifying, but with the tow he got he probably picked up four-tenths, so we’re right there. I’m quite pleased with my qualifying lap because I did it all alone and it felt good. We threw everything at it with the package we have, which hasn’t felt the best. We’re working hard and the LCR Honda Castrol team are working great, getting the information we need to improve the bike. Overall, it’s good. It’s probably going to be a tyre war tomorrow, and hopefully we’ll make the right choices.”

Maverick Vinales – P7

“My pace is really good, but starting from seventh is always very difficult, very tough. We’re going to try to make a good start and ride some good first laps, which we have been working really hard on this weekend. Anyway, the race is always different, so then we will see where we are. The bike is moving a lot, I’m fighting it every lap. But anyway, luckily I’m physically really fit. I think I can arrive at the end of the race in a good condition. It’s going to be a tough and long race, with many bikes and overtakes, so we have to be smart and also manage the tyres.”

Pecco Bagnaia – P8

“We are improving and this is a very important fact. I really enjoyed the set up we did. The goal is to finish the race and try to take the Top 10. I can say that we are competitive and for tomorrow there is a lot of confidence”.

Andrea Dovizioso – P9

“We’re competitive in terms of race pace but unfortunately today we struggled on the single lap, which slightly complicated our plans but also helped us understand how to improve the setup of my Desmosedici GP during FP4, as shown by the good lap time posted to get through Q1. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to push to the limit in Q2 because of the traffic, which made it very difficult to put a clean lap together even though second row was within our reach. Tomorrow we’ll have to recover positions and keep a strong pace from the very start. Given the track conditions, it’ll be crucial to pick the right tyres for the race, then we’ll be able to fight.”

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Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) locks out the top ten, ahead of Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) after another automatic graduation to Q2 for the impressive Spaniard. Pirro slots into 12th as he starts his 100th GP, just ahead of the aforementioned Rins – one of many big names looking to launch forward quick style when the lights go out.

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Takaaki Nakagami – P10

“Of course I’m really happy about the second day today because we have improved a lot from yesterday. During qualifying I was a little bit disappointed with what happened in sector four on the last lap. I hit the bumps and couldn’t hold on to the bike, so I lost a bit of time. Despite this, I was still able to improve on my best lap of the weekend. I’m a bit disappointed to drop to tenth on the grid, which is the fourth row. On the other hand, I’m really happy with my feeling on the bike. I am strong, especially in the middle two sectors on the track and everything is working well on the bike. For the race the tyre situation is quite clear for us, and so hopefully we will get a good start. I might not be fastest in terms of top speed, but I think we can be strong in the whole race. The main thing is not to give up, and I will do my best to bring home a good result for my LCR Honda Idemitsu Team”.

Pol Espargaro – P11

“I’m more than satisfied. The lap-time we did this morning was outstanding and I feel super-proud of what we are doing. I wanted to do better in the afternoon but if there is a small change then we pay for it quite hard. It was quite windy in some parts of the track in the afternoon and with the change of direction I could not move the bike. I was hitting T1 even faster than the morning lap but I was losing it through T2, 3, 4: more than four tenths of a second there. Honestly though I am super-happy and looking forward to tomorrow because I think we have better pace than what we are showing. It will be a fun race.”

Michele Pirro – P12

“I’m quite happy because I was able to do a 1:46.2 in Q1, which is my personal best here at Mugello, and both Dovizioso and I were able to make it through and be in Q2, preceding some tough rivals. Unfortunately, in Q2, the ‘waiting’ game with other riders made me lose a bit of focus and I wasn’t able to post a really quick lap time as I made some mistakes. I’m sorry because, with two new soft rear tyres, I could have possibly posted a high 1:45 and start much closer to the front, but I’m also confident ahead of the race and I hope all Ducati riders can be in the mix. We all work together to be protagonists here at Mugello.”

Alex Rins – P13

“I lost some confidence after my crash, but I recovered it in the later sessions. For the final lap of Q1, I exited the pits at the same time as Rossi, he was behind me on the time sheets and I thought he would be pushing, so I intended to stay behind him on the track as it’s always easier here with a tow. But in the end the lap got messed up and I just lost out on Q2. Tomorrow I’ll try to put together a good race, there are many competitive riders at the front, and I’ll push hard to be up with them.”

Aleix Espargaro – P15

“I think that getting below the 1’47 mark is a good result for the level we are at today. I certainly can’t be satisfied with the final position, but I did a good lap in a time that nobody has ever done with this bike, so I feel like I did as much as possible.In terms of top speed, we do not have big problems, but we are struggling too much in acceleration. I think I have a bit better race pace than I had at Le Mans, but it will be a very difficult race, with the heat and on a very difficult track.”

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Mugello is always an incredible event, but with such a tantalising grid and a mix of searing ambition and veteran experience on every row, 2019 will surely be something special.

2019 Mugello MotoGP Qualifying Results

Pos	Rider	Q	Time	Gap
1	M Marquez	Q2	1’45.519	0.000
2	F Quartararo	Q2	1’45.733	0.214
3	D Petrucci	Q2	1’45.881	0.362
4	F Morbidelli	Q2	1’45.959	0.440
5	J Miller	Q2	1’46.029	0.510
6	C Crutchlow	Q2	1’46.079	0.560
7	M Viñales	Q2	1’46.181	0.662
8	F Bagnaia	Q2	1’46.260	0.741
9	A Dovizioso	Q2	1’46.293	0.774
10	T Nakagami	Q2	1’46.387	0.868
11	P Espargaro	Q2	1’46.433	0.914
12	M Pirro	Q2	1’46.638	1.119
13	A Rins	Q1	1’46.539	(*) 0.261
14	T Rabat	Q1	1’46.678	(*) 0.400
15	A Espargaro	Q1	1’46.899	(*) 0.621
16	K Abraham	Q1	1’47.028	(*) 0.750
17	J  Lorenzo	Q1	1’47.135	(*) 0.857
18	V Rossi	Q1	1’47.184	(*) 0.906
19	J Zarco	Q1	1’47.394	(*) 1.116
20	J Mir	Q1	1’47.519	(*) 1.241
21	H Syahrin	Q1	1’48.222	(*) 1.944
22	M Oliveira	Q1	1’48.235	(*) 1.957
23	A Iannone	Q1	1’48.303	(*) 2.025

Moto2

Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) heads up the Moto2 grid at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley after another record-breaking day, with the German taking his third career pole position by an infinitesimal 0.040 ahead of teammate Tom Lüthi. Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) completes the front row, qualifying in the same P3 from which he took his first win of the year last time out and the third man of six to break the previous lap record. Championship leader Lorenzo Baldassarri (Flexbox HP 40), meanwhile, had a difficult day at the office and will start his home Grand Prix from P15.

Baldassarri was also one of four riders who moved through from Q1, with the Italian graduating just behind rookie Jorge Martin (Red Bull Ajo KTM) and Xavi Vierge (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) but marginally ahead of compatriot Nicolo Bulega (Sky Racing Team VR46) as a few famous faces had initially failed to make the cut in the morning.

Bulega would go on to play a big role in the final grid, however, and he heads up Row 2 after his best qualifying in the class. He’s the top home rider and ahead of man of the moment Jorge Navarro (MB Conveyors Speed Up), with Friday’s fastest man, Luca Marini, making it both Sky Racing Team VR46 bikes on the second row as he ended the session in P6.

Tetsuta Nagashima (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) got the better of Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) to take P7, with the Brit down in eighth after a crash in FP3. Augusto Fernandez (Flexbox HP 40) is in ninth after he topped FP3 but failed to repeat the feat in the afternoon, with Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) completing the top ten despite still recovering from a broken collarbone.

Baldassarri down in P15 will be one to watch on race day as he pushes to come back through the back, as will Mattia Pasini (Petronas Sprinta Racing) down in P18 – can the Championship leader and the 2017 Mugello winner strike back on Sunday?

2019 Mugello Moto2 Qualifying Results

Pos	Rider	Q	Time	Gap
1	Marcel Schrotter	Q2	1’51.129	0.000
2	Thomas Luthi	Q2	1’51.169	0.040
3	Alex Marquez	Q2	1’51.346	0.217
4	Nicolo Bulega	Q2	1’51.401	0.272
5	Jorge Navarro	Q2	1’51.470	0.341
6	Luca Marini	Q2	1’51.484	0.355
7	Tetsuta Nagashima	Q2	1’51.640	0.511
8	Sam Lowes	Q2	1’51.692	0.563
9	Augusto Fernandez	Q2	1’51.697	0.568
10	Remy Gardner	Q2	1’51.724	0.595
11	Enea Bastianini	Q2	1’51.728	0.599
12	Jorge Martin	Q2	1’51.776	0.647
13	Simone Corsi	Q2	1’51.798	0.669
14	Fabio Di Giannantoni	Q2	1’51.920	0.791
15	Lorenzo Baldassarri	Q2	1’51.976	0.847
16	Andrea Locatelli	Q2	1’52.015	0.886
17	Xavi Vierge	Q2	1’52.055	0.926
18	Mattia Pasini	Q2	1’52.416	1.287
19	Brad Binder	Q1	1’52.025	(*) 0.366
20	Bo Bendsneyder	Q1	1’52.062	(*) 0.403
21	Dominique Aegerter	Q1	1’52.325	(*) 0.666
22	Stefano Manzi	Q1	1’52.438	(*) 0.779
23	Iker Lecuona	Q1	1’52.541	(*) 0.882
24	Lukas Tulovic	Q1	1’52.770	(*) 1.111
25	Marco Bezzecchi	Q1	1’53.510	(*) 1.851
26	Joe Roberts	Q1	1’53.652	(*) 1.993
27	Philipp Oettl	Q1	1’53.714	(*) 2.055
28	Steven Odendaal	Q1	1’53.806	(*) 2.147
29	Dimas Ekky Pratama   Ina	Q1	1’54.478	(*) 2.819
30	Jake Dixon	Q1	1’54.682	(*) 3.023
31	Xavi Cardelus	Q1	1’55.774	(*) 4.115
32	Teppei Nagoe	Q1	1’55.822	(*) 4.163

Moto3

Home hero Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers) will start his home Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley from his third career pole at Mugello, setting a stunning new lap record in qualifying to end Saturday nearly seven tenths clear of the competition. That competition is led by Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3), 0.673 down in second, with Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) the last man within a second of pole to lock out the front row.

After a frantic Q1 that saw rookie Raul Fernandez (Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team) lead the way ahead of Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing), Darryn Binder (CIP – Green Power) and Andrea Migno (Bester Capital Dubai), the stage was set for a showdown in Q2 and, as always in Moto3, there was plenty of action packed in.

After the first run it was Friday’s fastest man Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) who led the way and Arbolino hadn’t even set a time, but there was drama for both Suzuki and teammate Antonelli as they’d left left pitlane before the lights went green – something that would later affect their grid positions immensely. Rodrigo was the first to move the goal posts and take over at the top at that point though, and the Argentine lowered his laptime again next time around. But then came Arbolino and the new lap record on his final lap of the session, with the Italian celebrating even before popping out from behind the bubble.

Rodrigo was therefore forced to settle for second, with Dalla Porta the man who’ll start alongside him in third after having moved up into the mix in the final few minutes. Andrea Migno was another late improver, the 2017 winner taking P4 at the flag to head the second row – an impressive feat after coming through Q1. Suzuki and teammate Niccolo Antonelli were fifth and sixth fastest at the flag, but their first laptimes were then cancelled after they were deemed to have gained an unfair advantage due to their earlier infraction – so it’s 2014 Mugello winner Romano Fenati (VNE Snipers) who starts fifth, with Qatar GP winner Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia) set to start alongside him in P6. After ending Day 1 outside the top twenty, the turnaround from the Japanese rider is an impressive one.

Ramirez took P7 and heads up the second row, ahead of Championship leader Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) after a more difficult session, with Suzuki’s fastest allowed lap putting him in P9 to complete Row 3. Alonso Lopez (Estrella Galicia 0,0) completes the top ten.

Will qualifying prove to matter that much at Mugello, where the slipstream rules all? The likes of Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) – 16th – and Le Mans winner John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) – 17th – will join Antonelli, down in 18th, in hoping it doesn’t and that race day shuffles the pack once again.

2019 Mugello Moto3 Qualifying Results

Pos	Rider	Q	Time	Gap
1	Tony Arbolino	Q2	1’56.407	0.000
2	Gabriel Rodrigo	Q2	1’57.080	0.673
3	Lorenzo Dalla Porta   Ita	Q2	1’57.276	0.869
4	Andrea Migno	Q2	1’57.438	1.031
5	Tatsuki Suzuki	Q2	1’57.453	1.046
6	Niccolò Antonelli	Q2	1’57.455	1.048
7	Romano Fenati	Q2	1’57.525	1.118
8	Kaito Toba	Q2	1’57.533	1.126
9	Marcos Ramirez	Q2	1’57.551	1.144
10	Aron Canet	Q2	1’57.575	1.168
11	Alonso Lopez	Q2	1’57.626	1.219
12	Jaume Masia	Q2	1’57.733	1.326
13	Dennis Foggia	Q2	1’57.911	1.504
14	Darryn Binder	Q2	1’58.007	1.600
15	Raul Fernandez	Q2	1’58.028	1.621
16	Sergio Garcia	Q2	1’58.031	1.624
17	Celestino Vietti	Q2	1’58.099	1.692
18	John Mcphee	Q2	1’58.122	1.715
19	Ayumu Sasaki	Q1	1’58.235	(*) 0.443
20	Jakub Kornfeil	Q1	1’58.282	(*) 0.490
21	Kazuki Masaki	Q1	1’58.471	(*) 0.679
22	Albert Arenas	Q1	1’58.496	(*) 0.704
23	Makar Yurchenko	Q1	1’58.714	(*) 0.922
24	Can Oncu	Q1	1’58.716	(*) 0.924
25	Kevin Zannoni	Q1	1’58.764	(*) 0.972
26	Ryusei Yamanaka	Q1	1’58.925	(*) 1.133
27	Gerry Salim	Q1	1’58.988	(*) 1.196
28	Vicente Perez	Q1	1’59.182	(*) 1.390
29	Filip Salac	Q1	1’59.897	(*) 2.105
30	Tom Booth-Amos	Q1	2’00.708	(*) 2.916

Source: MCNews.com.au

2019 MotoGP
Round Six – Mugello
Friday Report

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Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) and Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) stole the headlines on Friday in the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley, with the rookies taking a 1-2 and split by just 0.046 at the top – making it the first time since Qatar 2008 qualifying, when Jorge Lorenzo took his debut pole ahead of Brit James Toseland, that two rookies have topped a full session.

Their closest competition came from Danilo Petrucci (Mission Winnow Ducati) as the Italian was just under a tenth in arrears in P3, with some big names outside the top ten: Andrea Dovizioso (Mission Winnow Ducati), Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Jorge Lorenzo (Repsol Honda Team).

Conditions were a stark contrast to Le Mans as the sun shone over the stunning Tuscan countryside in Mugello, and as the clock ticked down, every rider apart from LCR Honda Idemitsu’s Takaaki Nakagami and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) had improved on their FP1 times with just under 20 minutes to go. As is oft the case in MotoGP FP2, however, most of the chopping and changing came in the final ten minutes.

FP1 leader Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) was sat at the top of the times for most of FP2, followed by a quintet of Ducatis, before Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Maverick Viñales then jumped into the top four and fellow Yamaha rider Quartararo moved up into P3 as the timing screens lit up with red sectors.

Danilo Petrucci (Mission Winnow Ducati) was the next to strike as he took over at the top, before Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pol Espargaro stuck in the first 1:46 of the weekend to take P1 and impress once again.

Petrucci and Quartararo then exchanged fastest times at the top, but with seconds to go there was another Italian on the march: Bagnaia, who improved drastically from a P17 in FP1 to delight the home crowd. That pushed Quartararo down to second, but only by half-a-tenth, with Petrucci in P3 and Pol Espargaro keeping hold of his top four.

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Pecco Bagnaia – P1

“I’m very happy because the work we’re doing is paying off. We have improved in the last races and the feeling was very good already in the FP1. The time attack came well and that’s why I’m satisfied. Tomorrow it will be very important to qualify directly for the Q2.”

Fabio Quartararo – P2

“This track is incredible. I’m enjoying myself a lot on this bike. I feel good under braking and the bike turns really well, so I’m making the most of this and I will do my best to be as fast as possible. I think it’s the first time I have enjoyed myself in this way at this track. We need to review the data but I think that it will be really difficult to get onto the front row of the grid here, because there are many riders whose times are close together. Tomorrow we will continue working on the tyre choice for the race and we will try to have a good qualifying session.”

Danilo Petrucci – P3

“Today the feeling with the bike was quite good, even though I’m not in perfect shape physically since I have a cold. Both sessions went quite well, even though the track doesn’t have much grip at the moment, to the point that you don’t feel a big difference even with a new soft rear tyre. So far, I’m still losing some time in the final sector, where I struggle to make the bike turn as I’d want to and I still can’t pick the lines I’d like to in the last corner. This is what we’ll focus on first, analyzing and comparing data. We need to stay focused and get ready for a fight during qualifying, because we’re all close at the top. Our goal is to fight for pole position, or the first two rows at least.”

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Viñales didn’t lose too much ground to end the day in fifth after a more difficult FP1 down the timesheets, with Marquez down in P6 as he looks to take his third win in a row.

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Maverick Vinales – P5

“In the afternoon I improved my riding. Just by riding the bike, and by trying to make myself smaller around the whole track, is where I found some time, but still the bike is very difficult, it’s so nervous. I couldn’t ride really well. We need to keep working and try to be better tomorrow. I’m struggling everywhere, so we need to improve and work in a good way if we want to fight for the race. Getting a first or second row for tomorrow will be very important. It’s such a long track, so you need to start at the front.”

Marc Marquez – P6

“Today we worked just with the tyres for the race. I am still a little bit sick from yesterday and also the bike wasn’t 100% either, hopefully a good night’s rest will help us both to be back at 100% tomorrow! Even like this we aren’t far and we just need to keep pushing tomorrow. It’s Friday and we didn’t put a new tyre in at the end so we are still feeling good.”

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Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) is pushing to recover from a tougher French GP, was seventh quickest on Friday, ahead of LCR Honda Castrol’s Cal Crutchlow in eighth.

Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) took P9 after a late crash for the Australian that dropped him out of the running for the front row.

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Jack Miller – P9

“I was going very fast in the time attack but I found some riders who were slowing down and I crashed. I am still very satisfied because the feeling is extremely positive and the race pace is good. Tomorrow I will give my best in FP3 to qualify directly to Q2. I’m confident.”

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Italian Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) completed the top ten and list of provisional automatic graduates to Q2.

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Andrea Dovizioso – P11

“All in all, we’re actually not that far. I still haven’t found the best feeling with my Desmosedici GP, even though we’re quite competitive in terms of race pace. During FP2 we tried and compared two quite different setups, both with positives and negatives, so now we need to be smart putting together all the data to find the best possible compromise. As we were expecting, compared with recent years, there are more fast riders who can fight at the top and some of our advantages perhaps are not that obvious anymore, but we’ve just started and I’m confident that working methodically, as we always do, we’ll be in the mix both during qualifying and the race.”

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So who’s missing? Dovizioso is in P11 so not far off, with Johann Zarco (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) just behind him despite a big off for the Frenchman.

Aliens Valentino Rossi is P18 and Jorge Lorenzo P20 after Day 1, and the two have a combined total of 13 premier class wins at Mugello.

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Valentino Rossi – P18

“It was a difficult day, I expected to be more competitive, but already from this morning I wasn’t very fast. I wasn’t feeling very well, and I wasn’t able to ride in a very good way. In fact, my position is quite bad, so we have to improve. This afternoon we tried the hard tyres, but the pace isn’t fantastic. We need to improve in other areas than just top speed, because the other Yamahas are quite fast.”

Jorge Lorenzo – P20

“Of course we can’t be happy with 20th, it’s not a good position to be in. But today at the end of FP2 everyone fitted the soft and I stayed working with the harder tyre because I feel we will be able to profit more tomorrow morning. My pace is not so far from everyone else but we still need to improve our one lap pace a bit. I think we could have been top ten with a new tyre. Tomorrow we will see.”

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FP3 will be pivotal for both Lorenzo and Rossi, but there’s no need to panic just yet: with good weather forecast it should provide a thrilling time-attack from the whole grid and they’re sure to play a part on Saturday morning.

Pos	Rider	FP1	FP2	Gap
1	F.Bagnaia	1’48.532	1’46.732	0.000
2	F.Quartararo	1’47.811	1’46.778	0.046
3	D.Petrucci	1’47.751	1’46.863	0.131
4	P.Espargaro	1’48.001	1’46.966	0.234
5	M.Viñales	1’48.392	1’46.973	0.241
6	M.Marquez	1’47.558	1’47.062	0.330
7	A.Rins	1’48.229	1’47.167	0.435
8	C.Crutchlow	1’48.109	1’47.170	0.438
9	J.Miller	1’47.814	1’47.185	0.453
10	F.Morbidelli	1’48.421	1’47.268	0.536
11	A.Dovizioso	1’48.214	1’47.347	0.615
12	J.Zarco	1’48.960	1’47.419	0.687
13	M.Pirro	1’47.804	1’47.421	0.689
14	T.Nakagami	1’47.925	1’47.483	0.751
15	J.Mir	1’48.897	1’47.579	0.847
16	A.Espargaro	1’47.812	1’47.612	0.880
17	T.Rabat	1’49.216	1’47.686	0.954
18	V.Rossi	1’48.356	1’47.726	0.994
19	A.Iannone	1’48.367	1’47.887	1.155
20	J.Lorenzo	1’48.550	1’48.114	1.382
21	K.Abraham	1’48.427	1’48.146	1.414
22	H.Syahrin	1’49.857	1’48.496	1.764
23	M.Oliveira	1’49.870	1’48.914	2.182

Moto2

Sky Racing Team VR46’s Luca Marini concluded the opening day of the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley as the man to beat in Moto2, leading FP1 and following it up by going fastest in FP2. It was close, however, with Tom Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) just 0.008 seconds off by the end of play. 2017 winner Mattia Pasini (Petronas Sprinta Racing), replacing the injured Khairul Idham Pawi, made it two Italians inside the top three as he ended Friday in third.

Lüthi’s teammate Marcel Schrötter was back at the sharp end under the sunny Tuscan skies on Day 1 too, with both Dynavolt Intact GP riders finding a big improvement from FP1. Nicolo Bulega (Sky Racing Team VR46) rounded out the top five and was top rookie on home turf, making it a top first day for the team as neither Marini nor Bulega have finished inside the top five so far this season so far.

MB Conveyors Speed Up’s Jorge Navarro was P6 and just over half a second adrift of Marini, and he was the first non-Kalex rider once again, although closely followed by the Red Bull KTM Ajo of rookie Jorge Martin after a solid opening day from the Spaniard.

Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), meanwhile, was the only man in the field not to improve on his FP1 time and as a result slipped to eighth overall. The French GP winner crashed out at Turn 1 halfway through the session and was unhurt but as a result ended the session two tenths off of his best lap from the morning.

Italtrans Racing Team’s Enea Bastianini was ninth quickest ahead of fellow Italian rookie Fabio Di Giannantonio (MB Conveyors Speed Up) after a top day for the debutants – four of them were in the top ten – with veteran Simone Corsi (Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2) in 11th as he looks to repeat his Le Mans pace on homesoil.

Ahead of FP3 on Saturday, the provisional remaining places in Q2 are heading to Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team), Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2), with Championship leader Lorenzo Baldassarri in 18th after Day 1. He is, however, only 0.902 behind Marini and made a pretty good comeback after a tougher Friday in Jerez…

Red Bull KTM Tech 3’s Marco Bezzecchi, meanwhile, was the source of some drama as he crashed out at Turn 5 but, despite a trip to the medical centre, he was thankfully declared fit for his home round and will be back out on track for FP3.

Pos	Rider	FP1	FP2	Gap
1	L.Marini	1’52.514	1’51.986	0.00
2	T.Luthi	1’52.835	1’51.994	0.008
3	M.Pasini	1’52.863	1’52.173	0.187
4	M.Schrotter   Ger	1’53.241	1’52.447	0.461
5	N.Bulega	1’53.531	1’52.524	0.538
6	J.Navarro	1’52.926	1’52.541	0.555
7	J.Martin	1’53.200	1’52.548	0.562
8	A.Marquez	1’52.555	1’52.706	0.569
9	E.Bastianini	1’53.834	1’52.568	0.582
10	F.Di Giannanto   Ita	1’52.793	1’52.617	0.631
11	S.Corsi	1’53.331	1’52.631	0.645
12	R.Gardner	1’53.178	1’52.653	0.667
13	B.Binder	1’53.384	1’52.709	0.723
14	S.Lowes	1’53.386	1’52.715	0.729
15	T.Nagashima	1’53.182	1’52.721	0.735
16	X.Vierge	1’53.700	1’52.782	0.796
17	A.Locatelli	1’53.218	1’52.870	0.884
18	L.Baldassarri   Ita	1’53.757	1’52.888	0.902
19	I.Lecuona	1’53.701	1’53.008	1.022
20	A.Fernandez    Spa	1’53.777	1’53.038	1.052
21	B.Bendsneyde  Ned	1’53.549	1’53.156	1.170
22	S.Manzi	1’54.472	1’53.342	1.356
23	L.Tulovic	1’54.728	1’53.578	1.592
24	D.Aegerter	1’54.260	1’53.618	1.632
25	S.Odendaal	1’54.044	1’53.668	1.682
26	M.Bezzecchi	1’54.470	1’53.705	1.719
27	P.Oettl	1’54.310	1’53.920	1.934
28	J.Roberts	1’54.600	1’54.471	2.485
29	J.Dixon	1’56.397	1’55.186	3.200
30	D.Ekky Pratam  Ina	1’57.967	1’55.549	3.563
31	X.Cardelus	1’57.835	1’56.811	4.825
32	T.Nagoe	1’59.746	1’56.879	4.893

Moto3

SIC58 Squadra Corse’s Tatsuki Suzuki took top Moto3 honours on Day 1 at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley, putting in a 1:57.467 in FP2 to fend off a superstar Friday from Italian wildcard Kevin Zannoni (RGR TM Official Team). Second Italian Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers) completes the top three at Mugello – all within an incredible half a tenth – with Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) on the chase in P4, just 0.073 off the top and after topping FP1.

Beautiful sunny skies met the grid on Friday and the timesheets in Moto3 made for a spectacle in themselves: Suzuki’s fastest lap was 1.6 seconds quicker than he went in the morning, Zannoni two seconds faster and Arbolino over a second – with many of the big improvers leaving it late. The likes of Antonelli also shaved a good chunk off their laptimes in the afternoon but he was a consistent presence in the top echelons, as was John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) as he ended the day fifth overall.

Another close trio followed from P6 to P8, with Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3), Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) locked within just over half a tenth. Rodrigo was also second in FP1, but Sasaki and Ramirez both made huge improvements in both laptime and position by the end of play in FP2.

Italian veteran Romano Fenati (VNE Snipers), who won the race in 2014, was ninth fastest and just over three tenths off Suzuki, with Darryn Binder (CIP – Green Power) completing the top ten in a solid opening day for the South African.

Some names looking for more on Saturday will be Championship leader Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) down in P12, key rival Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) in P14 and Qatar winner Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia), who ended Day 1 in a difficult P23.

It’s the fastest 14 on the combined times after FP3 who’ll go straight through to Qualifying 2, has Friday decided it or will we see a Saturday morning shuffle?

Pos	Rider	FP1	FP2	Gap
1	T.Suzuki	1’59.067	1’57.467	0.000
2	K.Zannoni	1’59.934	1’57.506	0.039
3	T.Arbolino	1’59.026	1’57.514	0.047
4	N.Antonelli	1’58.188	1’57.540	0.073
5	J.Mcphee	1’58.360	1’57.648	0.181
6	G.Rodrigo	1’58.324	1’57.691	0.224
7	A.Sasaki	1’59.564	1’57.709	0.242
8	M.Ramirez	1’59.264	1’57.751	0.284
9	R.Fenati	1’59.246	1’57.794	0.327
10	D.Binder	2’00.399	1’57.870	0.403
11	A.Lopez	1’58.987	1’57.880	0.413
12	A.Canet	1’58.687	1’58.077	0.610
13	S.Garcia	1’59.233	1’58.083	0.616
14	L.Dalla Porta   Ita	1’58.608	1’58.127	0.660
15	R.Fernandez	1’59.766	1’58.238	0.771
16	C.Vietti	1’59.929	1’58.268	0.801
17	M.Yurchenko	1’59.548	1’58.442	0.975
18	J.Kornfeil	1’59.190	1’58.448	0.981
19	D.Foggia	1’59.511	1’58.497	1.030
20	R.Rossi	1’59.224	1’58.524	1.057
21	K.Masaki	1’59.837	1’58.641	1.174
22	F.Salac	1’59.859	1’58.835	1.368
23	K.Toba	1’59.356	1’58.853	1.386
24	C.Oncu	1’58.860	1’58.926	1.393
25	A.Arenas	1’58.928	1’59.423	1.461
26	G.Salim	2’00.045	1’59.015	1.548
27	A.Migno	2’00.385	1’59.139	1.672
28	J.Masia	1’59.178	1’59.195	1.711
29	R.Yamanaka	1’59.346	1’59.274	1.807
30	V.Perez	1’59.828	2’01.137	2.361
31	T.Booth-Amos	2’04.080	2’00.237	2.770

Source: MCNews.com.au