Track action at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley kicks off on Friday morning but as always, before the riders do their talking on the asphalt, it was time to chat all things Mugello as World Championship leader and 2021 Italian GP race winner Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) was joined by Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), Jack Miller and his Ducati Lenovo Team teammate Francesco Bagnaia in the pre-event Press Conference.

He may have won in Italy last year, but the question remains: how strong will Quartararo be on the Yamaha at a temple of top speed? Sector 2 and Sector 3 were pinpointed by the reigning World Champion as ones he’ll excel in, but the most important thing will be qualifying well and getting a good start.

Quartararo: “It’s difficult to say because it’s not bad tracks (including Catalunya) for us, but if we are in bad positions then it will be bad. I would say if we get a great start and great first lap it can change our race, the qualifying and first lap. Let’s see how it goes but I think the next two will be tough.”

The breaking news coming out on Thursday was Aprilia Racing announcing that both Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales will be remaining with the Noale factory until at least the end of 2024. Coming into Aprilia’s home Grand Prix, Espargaro is on a run of three consecutive P3 finishes and second in the title race – and next week is the Spaniard’s home Grand Prix.

A huge couple of weekends face Espargaro and there is added pressure given where we’re going. But the same points are on offer, so the target remains the same.

Aleix Espargaro: “It’s two very important races for us. Mugello is very important for Aprilia, I’m very happy to ride in Italy in this way, with good results. We are actually leading the teams’ Championship for the first time in Italy for Aprilia, so it’s fantastic and next week it will, be my home GP.

“It’s two very important races, but it’s 50 points, no more than Germany and Assen, for example, so I am trying to work in the same way as the previous weekends. I have the same feeling that Fabio does, that the first laps of the race will be very, very important, especially against the fast Ducatis here at Mugello with the long straight. So, trying to be focused from the first lap tomorrow morning will be very, very important.”

It was a disappointing end to the French GP for Bagnaia after crashing out of second place, but lessons have been learned and the Italian admitted that there isn’t any better place to try and put things right than Mugello.

Bagnaia: “Yeah it’s normal sometimes you can make mistakes and my one was a bit too big, but it’s ok. I had time at home to learn from that and I think the best place to re-join is Mugello. I’m really looking forward to riding tomorrow, last year was good to me, everything went well apart from the race, but Sunday was one of the worst days we had during the season. Let’s think from the Championship and try to enjoy tomorrow.”

Tune into MotoGP™ FP1 at 09:55 local time (GMT-2) to see who comes out the blocks fastest at Mugello! 

After a dramatic weekend of racing at France’s Le Mans, MotoGP™ resumes at picturesque Mugello with Round 8 of the 2022 World Championship. That means it’s time to select your riders and constructor for MotoGP™ Fantasy, and we’re here to have a look at the state of play ahead of the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley.

Winners are grinners and Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing) was not only first to the chequered flag a fortnight ago at Le Mans; he was also the top rider in MotoGP™ Fantasy. When the Italian finishes on the podium this year, he wins, and his two positions gained helped him to collect 39 points in France.

Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) was another who acquitted himself well at Le Mans, where a second placing represented his first podium of 2022 and best result so far this year. The Australian also qualified on the front row, meaning he bagged 29 points for the gamers who have him in their team.

Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) might have only qualified 18th last round, but the South African is famous for being a ‘Sunday man’. He gained six positions on the first lap alone, and another four over the course of the race, meaning another 14 points for the Dream Team. It would have been 28 points if you had selected Binder as one of your Gold Riders.

The other rider in the French GP Dream Team is the man who seemingly cannot stop finishing on the podium, Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) Another podium, from a front row start, meant he earned 12 MotoGP™ Fantasy points for the Dream Team.

With Bologna bullets finishing first and second in the race, it is not surprising that Ducati was the top-scoring constructor in MotoGP™ Fantasy, scooping 34 points.

In total, the French GP Dream Team would have cost you 17.1M and earned a healthy 128 points overall.

Once again, weather threatens to spice up proceedings. We didn’t see any during the Le Mans MotoGP™ race, but the forecast is for thunderstorms this Saturday and rain also on Sunday, and that raises the stakes when picking your team.

With its long, uphill pit straight, Mugello is a track that suits the Bologna bullets to the ground. Miller might not have won the Italian GP yet, but he could be just the right combination of wet weather prowess and Ducati horsepower. The Australian has become more expensive after his exploits in France, but is still worth a look at 3.2M.

Of course, while Miller finished just off the podium when the rain poured down at Mandalika earlier this year, it was fellow Ducati rider Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) who did make the top three. The Australian and the Frenchman are currently an equal fifth in the World Championship, and while Zarco is a little pricier at 3.5M, he might be a good pick for your team.

Another rider to stand on the podium at a wet Indonesia was Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™). He also won the Italian GP in 2021, and can be relied on as a solid performer even if his motorcycle might not be quite as well-suited to Mugello. ‘El Diablo’ will set you back a large sum, however, at 4.7M.

Espargaro has recorded a hat-trick of podiums now, with third placings in each of the last three races. It would be brave to predict that his hot streak will come to an end, but it will cost you 3.9M to get the Spaniard onto your team.

Looking elsewhere in the field, Bastianini will be eager for a good result on home soil after a bizarre collision on the grid last year, and should be considered a threat due to riding a Ducati. He will set you back 3.4M, but that might well be worth the investment. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) is another in with a good chance of winning the race, but comes at a cost of 4.4M. Maybe Team Suzuki Ecstar is worth including in your team, with Joan Mir going for 3.5M and Alex Rins for 3.7M.