Race day at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello will be one to forget for sure, after both Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Maverick Viñales and Enea Bastianini crashed out early in the race, calling it for an early end to our adventure in Tuscany. While he was battling out for 4th after a solid start, there was nothing Viñales could do when Franco Morbidelli made a way-too-aggressive move on the Spaniard, and caused him to crash. Morbidelli was handed one long lap penalty for irresponsible riding, an insufficient punishment, looking at how much it cost Viñales, clearly on course for big points today. Teammate Bastianini crashed out of the last corner in the opening lap, so the Italian dream was sadly over quickly for the local hero.
Grand Prix of Italy
The stage was set for a beautiful Sunday at the Mugello, with Maverick Viñales arriving confident from his 4th place in the Tissot Sprint on Sunday. Starting from 5th, ‘Top Gun’ took once again a rocket start heading to turn 1 elbow-to-elbow with Pedro Acosta. The number 37 tried to sneak on the inside, but Viñales kept the upper-hand from the outside to be in the best position for the next left turn, and he kept the advantage on fellow KTM rider Acosta. Maverick sat in 6th after the opening lap, but quickly overtook Fabio Quartararo to move up to 5th. Maverick set a solid early pace which allowed him to escape from both Acosta and Quartararo battling out for 6th behind. At the front, the Ducati Factory duo Marc Marquez-Francesco Bagnaia was providing us with a hectic fight for the lead, which allowed the three riders behind to completely close the gap on them. A net front-5 was formed, closed by Maverick, just 0.5 seconds ahead of Acosta. The crazy battle at the front continued to go on, with Alex Marquez adding himself to the mix, and Top Gun continued to hold his solid pace, with an impressive 1’46.761 on lap 5, which allowed him to close on Franco Morbidelli ahead. However, watch out from behind with Fabio Di Giannantonio putting in the hop laps behind. By lap 8, Maverick was completely in the back wheel of Morbidelli, ready to take on the opportunity. Then began the battle for 4th between these two. Maverick managed to make a move on the #21 in San Donato at lap 9, but a way too aggressive move of Morbidelli in the following turn, who clearly did not have the space to go on the inside, pushed Maverick, who suffered a high speed crash. Unfair and unlucky outcome to this Italian Grand Prix for our number 12, who deserved much more than that today. We will highlight that he rode the second fastest lap of the race on lap 2, in 1'46.568.
Sadly, the story in Mugello was quickly over too for Enea Bastianini. The Italian had taken a really strong start from 16th, moving up to 14th in the first turns, and then battling it out for 13th against Raul Fernandez. Eventually, he could overcome the Spaniard, but then he got a bit tight with Johann Zarco. Both were showing fast speed in the first lap trying to recover positions, and Enea lost the front at the last corner of the opening lap when he released the brakes. Story over for Bastianini who wanted that good result at home so bad. We have to see the glass half-full, as we saw some good improvements over this weekend. Luckily we have another chance next week, as the team will head directly to the good old TT Circuit Assen for the Motul Grand Prix of the Netherlands, on June 27-28-29.
MAVERICK VIÑALES: "It has been a very positive weekend, every time we get closer and closer to the front guys, which is what we are looking for. In the race, we felt really good, we were controlling the rear tire to save it for later, but unfortunately, another rider touched me and I crashed. We must be very pleased though, because we are now regularly fighting for the top positions against all the Ducatis, which is the most important. I am very happy with how our level is growing up, and I am confident that we can continue improving and getting even closer to the top guys."
ENEA BASTIANINI: "Our start was good, but in the end of the first lap we found ourselves in a battle with Johann Zarco after struggling to go past Raul Fernandez. We both arrived very fast to the last corner, I was on the inside, he was outside, and I lost the front when I released the brakes. I had recovered many positions in the first lap because I wanted to do a great result here, but in the end, that was it for me. I think we made some good improvements this weekend, it was positive for us. It was important to get a good result, for myself, for the team, for the morale, but we will try again next week."
NICOLAS GOYON, Team Manager: "We are leaving Mugello with a huge bitter taste, because we had done a really good job until today. After both Maverick Viñales and Enea Bastianini reached their best sprint results of the season yesterday, we felt completely ready for a great team result today. Unfortunately, Maverick was another victim added to the big list of Franco Morbidelli, who literally bumped into Maverick after he was overtaken. He was penalised for his move, but the fact is that he just ruined the strong chances of Maverick for a top 5 and eventually a podium. It is a great shame, but we have to see the glass half-full, and it was another extremely positive weekend for Maverick, so we know the next rounds will be bright for him. Enea Bastianini made some important steps this weekend, but today he crashed in the last corner of the opening lap, and that was it. The work continues for Enea, and I am sure that he will continue to make steps forward in the upcoming races."
RACE RESULTS
1. Marc Marquez (SPA), Ducati Lenovo Team, 41'09.214
2. Alex Marquez (SPA), BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP, +1.942
3. Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA), VR46 Racing Team, +2.136
DNF. Maverick Viñales (SPA), Red Bull KTM Tech3, 15 Laps
DNF. Enea Bastianini (ITA), Red Bull KTM Tech3
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDING
1. Marc Marquez (SPA), Ducati Lenovo Team, 270pts
2. Alex Marquez (SPA), BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP, 230pts
3. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA), Ducati Lenovo Team, 160pts
11. Maverick Viñales (SPA), Red Bull KTM Tech3, 54pts
16. Enea Bastianini (ITA), Red Bull KTM Tech3, 35pts
TRACK RECORDS
All Time Record: 2025 - M. Marquez (SPA) - 1'44.169 - 181.2 km/h
Best Race Lap: 2024 - F. Bagnaia (ITA) - 1'45.770 - 178.5 km/h
Best Pole: 2025 - M. Marquez (SPA) - 1'44.169 - 181.2 km/h
Top Speed: 2024 - P. Espargaro (SPA) - 366.1 km/h
