Michael Scott | June 3, 2018
2018 MotoGP Results Sunday from Mugello
Jorge Lorenzo silenced the critics and upset the form book with a first win on a Ducati at Mugello, heading a Ducati one-two at the marque’s home circuit for the Italian GP.
2018 MotoGP Results Sunday from Mugello
It was a return to his glory days, when he won three World Championships on a Yamaha.
The Spanish rider had qualified on the front row for the first time this year, narrowly missing a first Ducati pole, and led away round the sweeping circuit in the Tuscan foothills.
He was never headed, finally taking his first victory since joining Ducat last year better than six seconds ahead of his team-mate Andrea Dovizioso.
Ironically, his long-awaited success on the red bike came four days after he had confirmed that Ducati would not be renewing his contract, after continuing disappointment at his results.
The difference, he said, came from a revised fuel tank which relieved him of the physical strain under braking that had been slowing him at earlier races … he led at Jerez and Le Mans, before dropping out of contention.
“A lot of people were saying my mentality was not right, and I just said I needed to be more comfortable and save more energy,” he said. “And finally when the team gave me a bike to feel comfortable, I could keep a constant pace, and today nobody could catch me.”
Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha) thrilled the capacity crowd after qualifying on pole for the first time since 2016 with third place, his second successive podium, moving him up to second overall in the championship.
But it was a disastrous day for triple race winner and title leader Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda). He was running second when he lost the front and slid off on only the fifth of 23 laps. He remounted, but finished out of the points.
The Ecstar Suzuki pair, Andrea Iannone and Alex Rins, were fourth and fifth; with Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) sixth, top independent finisher.
Marquez still leads on points, 95 to Rossi’s new total of 72.
2018 MotoGP Results Sunday from Mugello