Cycle News Staff | June 2, 2024
Sunday MotoGP Race
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) completed a near-perfect weekend on home turf with a masterclass victory in the Gran Premio d’Italia Brembo. The Italian stormed to the lead from lights out and then kept it on perfect rails to stay a tantalising distance ahead of Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) for much of the race, with the gap going up and down but never quite in range for an attack. That instead came from Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) as the #23 put together an almighty final charge.
The Beast duelled Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and then put in a late burst of lightning speed to catch Martin, that enough to put him within striking distance at the final corner. And strike he did. Slicing up the inside and keeping it clean as anything, the #23 served his Tissot Sprint revenge to make it a Ducati Lenovo 1-2, with Martin forced to settle for third.
Bagnaia went all KISS-style for an emphatic home win.
As the lights went out, Bagnaia went full Bagnaia. Second around San Donato as he threaded the needle from the second row, he immediately then lined up and pickpocketed Martin to go into the lead. From there, the hammer was down as Martin dug in to hold on, with Bastianini third ahead of Marc Marquez and Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing).
The chess game was on from there on out. Three tenths, six tenths, eight tenths, five tenths; Martin wasn’t getting dropped but he wasn’t consistently able to stay close enough to attack the #1 in the lead.
Meanwhile, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) was on the march. Marquez made a move on Bastianini into San Donato and headed wide, with the #23 hitting back immediately, and that put the rookie superstar right on Marquez’ tail. The GASGAS shadowed him round the lap but couldn’t find a way through, then heading wide at the final corner and forced to watch the Gresini disappear out of striking distance.
At the front, the chess match rolled on. Bagnaia led Martin led Bastianini, with Marquez then starting to harry the #23. Acosta was a few tenths further back, with Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) starting to come under pressure from Viñales with 12 to go. It was tense holding stations, with the one small ripple in the calm coming as Martin went deep into San Donato with 10 laps to go, but he gathered it back up.
Martin (89) got the jump but Bagnaia (1) roared past at turn two and was never headed.
By six laps to go, it wasn’t check mate but it was starting to heat up into a grandstand finish. Marc Marquez finally made a move on Bastianini, attacking into San Donato with a clean move that gave the #23 no right of reply. His mission seemed then to catch Martin, but Martin was starting to cut the gap to the front once again. By three laps to go, it had been halved from the eight or nine tenth maximum Bagnaia had had at any point. Game on?
Very much so, but not for the #89. Instead, Bagnaia threw down the gauntlet and disappeared again as Bastianini stole the spotlight. Through on Marc Marquez at Scarperia, the exact same style of move the #93 had pulled on him, the Beast was on a charge and his next target was the other half of the Sprint tangle that had sent him into the gravel.
Locked on and flying, as Bagnaia crossed the line to take his third Italian GP win in a row as part of his second Mugello double, Bastianini was homing in. Into the very final corner the Ducati Lenovo Team rider found space on the inside to complete the fairtytale 1-2 for the team, and in some serious style as pandemonium erupted in the grandstands. Over the line with time in hand over Martin, Bastianini followed Bagnaia home – and Martin’s lead is cut to just 18 points.
Bastianini sliced up the inside of Martin at the final corner to make it a factory Ducati 1-2.
Still, it was another podium finish and a good haul of points, and it was ahead of fellow frontrunner Marc Marquez, who was forced to settle for fourth. Acosta ended up in a lonelier ride for fifth after he’d lost touch with the front group.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) caught Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) and got past him, and then managed to catch Viñales and Morbidelli to create a three-way fight for sixth. He made made it past the Aprilia just as the race entered the final three laps, but Morbidelli managed to stay ahead to take P6 ahead of the VR46 rider, Viñales and Alex Marquez.
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) didn’t get the same stellar start as he did in Saturday, but the South African held off Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) to complete the top ten.
It’s now just 18 points separating Martin from Bagnaia at the top of the Championship, and after a maximum of 259 have already been on the table.
2024 Italian MotoGP—Sunday MotoGP Race
| 1 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
1:44.504 |
| 2 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
+0.799 |
| 3 |
Jorge Martin |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
+0.924 |
| 4 |
Marc Marquez |
(Gresini Racing MotoGP™) |
+2.064 |
| 5 |
Pedro Acosta |
(Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) |
+7.501 |
| 6 |
Franco Morbidelli |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
+9.890 |
| 7 |
Fabio Di Giannantonio |
(Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) |
+10.076 |
| 8 |
Maverick Viñales |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+11.683 |
| 9 |
Alex Marquez |
(Gresini Racing MotoGP™) |
+13.535 |
| 10 |
Brad Binder |
(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) |
+15.901 |
Sunday Moto2 Race
In a blockbuster Moto2™ race at the Gran Premio d’Italia Brembo, Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) took victory in a nail-biting last lap decider, the American repelling the best efforts of Manuel Gonzalez (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) to take top honours for the first time since the 2022 Portuguese GP. Completing the podium was MB Conveyors SpeedUp’s Alonso Lopez, who was elbows out in the front fight, as ever.
Off like a rocket at the start, Roberts led early on the opening lap. He had close competition though, with Lopez and a Darryn Binder (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) following on eagerly. A flying start also came in from Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) as well, who stormed to seventh after starting 12th.
Roberts held on for a nail-biting win and the first for the American Racing Team in Moto2.
Lopez would follow Roberts until lap four before he pounced at San Donato, but it wouldn’t be until Turn 3 before he could make the move stick. Unfortunately for the MB Conveyors Speed Up team, it was glory for one and disaster for another in that moment as Lopez’ teammate Fermin Aledguer crashed out after contact from Jeremy Alcoba (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team).
Still in the lead, Lopez now had Gonzalez behind as he had found his way through on Roberts. Slightly further back in the lead pack, disaster stuck for Binder who skittled into the gravel at Arrabbiata 1, an early end to what had been a strong weekend all round.
In a six-rider battle for the lead, everything was building to a grandstand last half of the race. The action kicked off as Roberts and Lopez ran wide at Turn 1 – giving them both more work to do – and allowing Gonzalez and Canet to the lead. But it wouldn’t be long before Roberts would then return the favour and find his way through to the front with just three laps remaining, asking questions of the others at the front.
Roberts lies just seven points off the lead heading to Assen.
As a dramatic finish loomed, Roberts entered the final lap in the lead. Gonzalez got a fantastic slipstream and attacked round San Donato, but the American hit back at the next available chance, diving to the inside at Turn 2. Under the highest of pressure, Roberts held strong to take his first victory since the 2022 Portuguese GP by just 0.067s. Gonzalez’ search for a first Moto2™ win goes on, and Lopez picked up third podium of the season.
Claiming fourth was Championship leader Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI), whose advantage in the standings has reduced to seven points. Behind Garcia was teammate Ogura, who Garcia pipped on the last lap, ahead of Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) and home hero Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo). Izan Guevara (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) claimed eighth as IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia’s Somkiat Chantra and OnlyFans American Racing Team’s Marcos Ramirez rounded out the top 10.
2024 Italian Moto2—Sunday Moto2 Race
| 1 |
Joe Roberts |
(OnlyFans American Racing Team) |
|
| 2 |
Manuel Gonzalez |
(QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) |
+0.067 |
| 3 |
Alonso Lopez |
(MB Conveyors SpeedUp) |
+0.934 |
| 4 |
Sergio Garcia |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+1.192 |
| 5 |
Ai Ogura |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+1.253 |
| 6 |
Aron Canet |
(Fantic Racing) |
+1.859 |
| 7 |
Celestino Vietti |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+2.618 |
| 8 |
Izan Guevara |
(CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) |
+3.349 |
| 9 |
Somkiat Chantra |
(IDEMISTU Honda Team Asia) |
+3.450 |
| 10 |
Marcos Ramirez |
(OnlyFans American Racing Team) |
+5.877 |
Sunday Moto3 Race
David Alonso (CFMoto Valresa Aspar Team) remains the rider to beat in Moto3™, taking his fifth win of the season in style at Mugello. The Colombian led from the front for much of a shortened 11-lap dash and held off a late charge from Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) to take another 25-point haul. Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) charged up from P13 on the grid to secure third and his first ever Grand Prix podium.
The initial start was red-flagged following a crash for Fillippo Farioli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Xabi Zurutuza (Red Bull KTM Ajo), with Zurutuza heading to hospital for further examination. Once back underway, the distance was reduced to 11 laps of Mugello, with one clear aim for most: keep up with Alonso.
There was drama nearly immediately as Dani Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) tagged riders at Turn 1 and sent Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Stefano Nepa (LEVEL UP-MTA) crashing out, with the #96 given a double Long Lap for irresponsible riding.
Alonso chalked up his fifth win of the year in Moto3.
Meanwhile at the front, it was a breakway group of six making their moves: Alonso, Veijer, Yamanaka, Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI), Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) and David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports).
With four to go, it looked like Alonso was trying to make a break, and it took Veijer a couple of laps to take over in second and get enough breathing space to start trying to close the Colombian down. But that he did, and by the start of the final lap the Dutchman was within a couple of tenths, with Ortola in third.
Ultimately, however, he couldn’t get close enough to make a move, and then there was drama in the fight for the final place on the podium too as Ortola slid out at Turn 12, ending his rostrum hopes. One of the quickest remounts of all time saw him still take sixth, but Yamanaka was up the road to take his maiden Grand Prix podium and continue his impressive consistency running near the front in 2024.
Fourth went to Furusato as he was the final rider within a couple of seconds of the front, with Muñoz forced to settle for fifth further down the road. Ortola remounted for that sixth ahead of another impressive ride from rookie Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse). Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing), rookie Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) and Matteo Bertelle (Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team) completed the top ten in a closer group battle.
The gap is now 37 points for Alonso at the top.
2024 Italian Moto3—Sunday Moto3 Race
| 1 |
David Alonso |
(CFMoto Valresa Aspar Team) |
|
| 2 |
Collin Veijer |
(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
+0.142 |
| 3 |
Ryusei Yamanaka |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+1.253 |
| 4 |
Taiyo Furusato |
(Honda Team Asia) |
+1.700 |
| 5 |
David Muñoz |
(BOE Motorsports) |
+5.399 |
| 6 |
Ivan Ortola |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+12.556 |
| 7 |
Luca Lunetta |
(SIC58 Squadra Corse) |
+13.839 |
| 8 |
Adrian Fernandez |
(Leopard Racing) |
+13.971 |
| 9 |
Jacob Roulstone |
(Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) |
+14.099 |
| 10 |
Matteo Bertelle |
(Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team) |
+14.106 |
2024 Italian MotoGP News—Saturday
Pedro renews
Pedro Acosta signed an extension with KTM which will see him move up to the factory team in 2025 and ’26.
“Who? Me?” Yes, you. Pedros’s got a factory bike next year.
“There’s no reason not to be happy about coming in a factory team,” he said. “It’s true that even now I have a factory bike, I have factory guys, I have factory crew. It’s true that there’s no reason to go away from this team, but there’s also no reason to not go up to the factory team for this. Super happy to take this decision, and after to have the decision one year ago that KTM was going to be my brand to jump to MotoGP with.”
FIM Stewards come in for another kicking
Events in the Sprint race served to heighten tensions between riders and MotoGP Stewards. Fabio Quartararo was incensed by inconsistencies as Miguel Oliveira wasn’t penalised for taking him out on the first lap.
Fabio Quartararo had plenty to say about the officials, again.
“For five years they make us file, like, ‘what do you think about this incident? Is this is penalty or not? ‘ [They] say ‘thank you, it was really helpful’. But at the end I go out more confused that when I come! But it’s not bad but, you know, looks like I’m talking to someone that has never been racing. So this is sad. And I think that… we have to get people more professional.”
Pecco Bagnaia was also incensed to receive a three-place grid penalty for touring on the racing line on Friday. “I think it’s ridiculous,” he said. “We demonstrate clearly what happened. They just decided the penalty when I was speaking with them. “(No one) is happy. We have no consistency in terms of penalty.”
Saturday MotoGP Sprint Race
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) is a Tissot Sprint winner for the first time since the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix! The reigning Champion redeemed his last lap crash a week ago in Barcelona to put in a stunning performance on Saturday at the Gran Premio d’Italia Brembo, taking off in the lead and then holding Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) at bay over a tense final few laps. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) completed the Sprint podium fresh from the news he’ll be in orange next season.
Championship leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), meanwhile, crashed out in the latter stages – and after a tangle with Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team).
Francesco Bagnaia made up for Catalunya’s Sprint Race capitulation with the home Sprint win.
Bagnaia got an almighty launch from second to take the holeshot, heading down into San Donato with metres to spare. Teammate Bastianini also launched it like a rocket to take the inside line and move into P2, denying polesitter Martin. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) shot up from P13 on the grid to challenge in the top five, with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) losing out to the South African and Marc Marquez.
Binder vs Marquez was the first big move, with the #93 attacking the KTM next time round down the main straight. He just found room on the right, tight as anything, and just kept it into Turn 1. The Gresini then set off after the top three – but drama was already brewing up ahead.
Bagnaia held the lead as Martin barreled back past Bastianini, but the Beast went for the move at Turn 1, heading slightly deep. Martin took the cutback and there was contact, with then Bastianini sliding out of his home Sprint. Incident: under investigation by the FIM MotoGP™ Stewards, alongside another that saw Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) and Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Racing) collide.
The result was no further action regarding either incident, which was certainly positive for the #89’s hopes of taking some key points, as he now had Marc Marquez to deal with – and Bagnaia was starting to disappear up the road just as Acosta was starting to home in.
Acosta came through for another Sprint podium in third but couldn’t catch Marquez.
With four to go, there was yet more drama though, and at the front. This time alone, but once again for Martin. The #89 had passed Marquez then been passed back, and he was holding a fairly secure third just ahead of Acosta. But round San Donato the front said no more and the Championship leader slid off onto the sidelines.
That left a familiar chess match at the front: Bagnaia vs Marquez. Next time around too, the #93 took a huge chunk out of the lead, and it was down to seven tenths with two to go. But the reigning Champion found a response in the third sector of the penultimate lap, and with that the deal was done. One more lap to right the wrong of the Barcelona Sprint – and with a second in hand. It was 1.469 as he crossed the line, and Marquez had put down his own burst of speed to leave Acosta a further two and a half seconds in arrears.
Pol Espargaro made a wildcard for KTM and took two points for 14th.
Taking his first Saturday victory since the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix is a big statement as Bagnaia cuts the gap to 27 points at the top of the Championship. He also once again escapes Marc Marquez, but the #93 once again banks some points, stays consistent, and this time starts Sunday ahead of the reigning Champion too. For Acosta, a podium is a nice dovetail to a day that also saw him confirmed as a Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider for 2025.
Martin, meanwhile, will be ruing his mistake, having not made too many at all so far in 2024. But 27 points remains sizeable as he looks to hit back on Sunday.
Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) equals his best result of the season so far, taking his second P4 in a Sprint after doing the same in Jerez, with Viñales completing the top five after getting past Binder. The South African held off Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), who completed the points in that order n a close-fought battle. Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing) completed the top ten, just a tenth ahead of Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team).
2024 Italian MotoGP Results—Sprint Race
| 1 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
|
| 2 |
Marc Marquez |
(Gresini Racing MotoGP™) |
+1.469 |
| 3 |
Pedro Acosta |
(Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) |
+4.147 |
| 4 |
Franco Morbidelli |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
+5.421 |
| 5 |
Maverick Viñales |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+7.693 |
| 6 |
Brad Binder |
(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) |
+8.271 |
| 7 |
Fabio Di Giannantonio |
(Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) |
+8.571 |
| 8 |
Alex Marquez |
(Gresini Racing MotoGP™) |
+8.846 |
| 9 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+8.984 |
| 10 |
Raul Fernandez |
(Trackhouse Racing) |
+10.085 |
MotoGP Qualifying
Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) set a new lap record to deny Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) pole position at the Gran Premio d’Italia Brembo, with the two split by just 0.043 at the top. Bagnaia has a three-place grid penalty for Sunday, but not Saturday, so he’ll line up second for the Tissot Sprint. Completing the front row on Aprilia Racing’s home turf is Maverick Viñales, with Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) forced to settle for fourth after a crash at Scarperia on what could have been a pole-threatening lap.
The big names and home heroes were raring to make their mark on Q1. After a flurry of early activity it was Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) leading the way from Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46), but the second runs saw it all change again – at first at least.
Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing) put in a fast one and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), but a final push from Morbidelli saw the Pramac rider set a new lap record to take back to the top. He moved through along with Raul Fernandez, with Binder left P13 on the grid.
Jorge Martin denied Pecco Bagnaia a home GP pole position.
Martin came out swinging in Q2 to set the first real benchmark, 0.043 ahead of Bagnaia, but the #1 was looking to hit back quickly. Up in the first sector, absolutely equal to Martin with +0.000 in the second and then just over tenth up in the third, it looked like he was on course to take over but over the line, it was just 0.068s off, leaving his previous effort as his best.
Next to try and look for an answer was Marc Marquez. The #93 was setting red sectors before it then suddenly all came apart and the front folded – leaving him fourth on the grid at best.
The final serious attack came from Viñales. The Aprilia was up right round the lap until the final sector, then just coming up short and unable to challenge Bagnaia and Martin. Bagnaia couldn’t find another challenge for the #89 either, with a lap gone for yellow flags too. Martin, gearing up for a final push, then encountered Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) at San Donato after the #73 had shot past him on the straight, and that was that. Still, for the Championship leader, the job was already done – and with a new lap record to boot.
Martin takes pole as he looks to spoil the home turf party for his rivals but make it even better for his Prima Pramac Racing team, with Bagnaia second on the grid for the Sprint but then set to take that three-place penalty on Sunday, dropping him to fifth on the grid. That changes the grids for a few riders. On Saturday it’s Martin, Bagnaia, Viñales, Marc Marquez and Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) in that order in the top five, but on Sunday it will be Martin, Viñales, Marc Marquez, Bastianini and then Bagnaia in P5. All of them broke the old lap record in Q2.
Behind them comes Q1 record setter Morbidelli as he completes Row 2 in P6, the first of those unaffected by the Bagnaia penalty. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) is next up as the superstar rookie takes P7, but that’s one record now out of reach as he loses the chance to take the record of youngest ever premier class polesitter from Quartararo.
Alex Marquez improved on the lap he was starting when just ahead of Martin, taking P8, ahead of Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) and Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™). The Trackhouse duo complete the Q2 runners, with Miguel Oliveira 0.081 off Rins and Raul Fernandez the exact same 0.081 off Oliveira.
Binder starts P13 ahead of Diggia, with the two joined on that row by Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) in 15th. Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) is at the head of Row 6 as a tougher season continues on home turf so far.
2024 Italian MotoGP Results—MotoGP Qualifying
| 1 |
Jorge Martin |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
1:44.504 |
| 2 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
+0.043 |
| 3 |
Maverick Viñales |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+0.183 |
| 4 |
Marc Marquez |
(Gresini Racing MotoGP™) |
+0.280 |
| 5 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
+0.376 |
| 6 |
Franco Morbidelli |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
+0.392 |
| 7 |
Pedro Acosta |
(Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) |
+0.524 |
| 8 |
Alex Marquez |
(Gresini Racing MotoGP™) |
+0.704 |
| 9 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+0.732 |
| 10 |
Alex Rins |
(Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ Team) |
+0.792 |
Moto2 Qualifying
After a dramatic qualifying at the Gran Premio d’Italia Brembo, Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) will start on pole position on Sunday after a late lap to claim a new lap record. The #16 continues to battle for the World Championship against Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI), who will start from second on the grid. Garcia set a great time early on which would stand the test of time ahead for all but pole, with MB Conveyors SpeedUp’s Alonso Lopez rounding out the front row in third.
There would be drama before Q2 even got underway for one rider, with Fermin Aldeguer (MB Conveyors SpeedUp) not taking part in Q2 due to an issue with his shoulder. He will be reviewed ahead of the Moto2™ race, and if starts it’ll be down the order after not heading out in the session.
Smokin’ Joe Roberts took pole and the lap record in Moto2.
Once Q2 was underway, Garcia was fastest in the early stages – setting a 1:49.955 early on. Roberts found time in the last two minutes to jump to second and set a new lap record after a stunning performance by the American, and during the last minute, Lopez also found time, pushing Manuel Gonzalez (Gresini Racing Moto2™) off the front row of the grid.
Heading the second row of the grid in fourth position will be Gonzalez, ahead of Darryn Binder (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), with the latter having an eventful qualifying after battling through Q1 and setting seven fast laps across Q2. Binder will be joined by fellow Q1 graduate Marcos Ramirez, with the #24 capping off a great day for OnlyFans American Racing.
Team Ciatti Boscoscuro wildcard Mattia Pasini will start from the third row of the grid after another impressive result from the Italian. Behind Pasini was Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) in eighth, with Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) rounding off the third row of the grid. However, some big names will start further back, such as Catalan GP winner Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) in P12 and Barcelona podium finisher Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) in 15th, both ahead of Aldeguer, who will start from 18th if he races on Sunday.
2024 Italian Moto2 Results—Moto2 Qualifying
| 1 |
Joe Roberts |
(Onlyfans American Racing Team) |
1:49.877 |
| 2 |
Sergio Garcia |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+0.078 |
| 3 |
Alonso Lopez |
(MB Conveyors SpeedUp) |
+0.255 |
| 4 |
Manuel Gonzalez |
(QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) |
+0.371 |
| 5 |
Darryn Binder |
(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
+0.469 |
| 6 |
Marcos Ramirez |
(OnlyFans American Racing Team) |
+0.481 |
| 7 |
Mattia Pasini |
(Team Ciatti Boscoscuro) |
+0.533 |
| 8 |
Somkiat Chantra |
(IDEMISTU Honda Team Asia) |
+0.573 |
| 9 |
Aron Canet |
(Fantic Racing) |
+0.620 |
| 10 |
Celestino Vietti |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+0.628 |
Moto3 Qualifying
A brilliant Moto3™ qualifying concluded with David Alonso (CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team) storming to pole position after an incredible performance all weekend at the Gran Premio d’Italia Brembo. The #80 secured pole position on his final lap after a frantic session, heading Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) as the Spaniard got closest. Rounding off the front row at Mugello is Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Jose Antonio Rueda, who took his sixth front row of the season.
Once Q2 got underway it was Jerez winner Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) who was fast straight out of the gates, with Alonso ending his first run down in third. On the second run, Veijer would improve before all eyes turned to Alonso who briefly topped the times. Ortola was next to steal the top honors on his final run, but Alonso would have his chance to respond, clocking an incredible 1:54.194 on his final lap of qualifying before Rueda jumped to third to knock Veijer off the front row too.
David Alonso took another pole in Moto3.
Veijer heads the second row of the grid after a late crash at Scarperia while the #95 was on a fast lap. Alongside the Dutchman will be Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), who rounds out the top five – less than a second adrift. Holgado has a good starting position for Sunday, as does rookie Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) as he takes sixth.
Rookie Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) starts from seventh on the grid, alongside Honda Team Asia’s Taiyo Furusato, with the #72 continuing to impress this weekend. After fighting through Q1 earlier on, Joel Kelso will round off the third row of the grid in ninth position for BOE Motorsport.
2024 Italian Moto3 Results—Moto3 Qualifying
| 1 |
David Alonso |
(CFMoto Valresa Aspar Team) |
1:54.194 |
| 2 |
Ivan Ortola |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+0.247 |
| 3 |
Jose Antonio Rueda |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+0.603 |
| 4 |
Collin Veijer |
(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
+0.712 |
| 5 |
Daniel Holgado |
(Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) |
+0.918 |
| 6 |
Luca Lunetta |
(SIC58 Squadra Corse) |
+0.942 |
| 7 |
Jacob Roulstone |
(Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) |
+1.015 |
| 8 |
Taiyo Furusato |
(Honda Team Asia) |
+1.057 |
| 9 |
Joel Kelso |
(BOE Motorsports) |
+1.270 |
| 10 |
Riccardo Rossi (CIP Green Power) |
+1.298 |
|
MotoE Race One
Race 1 for the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship gave us unpredictable action from start to finish at the Gran Premio d’Italia Brembo, with Mattia Casadei (LCR E-Team) taking victory in spectacular fashion. Casadei now has a six-point lead in the championship after crossing the line to win by just 0.269s ahead of Alessandro Zaccone (Tech3 E-Racing), who led from the start before going head-to-head with the reigning World Champion on the final lap. The last spot on the podium went the way of Hector Garzo (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) who returns to the podium for the first time since Portimao.
In the original start to Race 1, Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™’s Lukas Tulovic suffered a crash at Bucine on the opening lap. Bringing out the red flag, the race was halted and later rescheduled to take place at 18:40 local time (UTC +2).
The restarted Race 1 got underway with this time Garzo taking the lead as the pack rounded San Donato but, defiant to get the start he needed, Zaccone dived underneath Garzo into Turn 2 to pinch the early lead.
Mattia Casadei (40) took a close win in MotoE’s first encounter.
Building up an early gap, Zaccone seemed to have broken the tow of the slipstream. But despite his early advantage, Casadei broke through to the head of the chasing pack and set about chipping away at Zaccone’s advantage. With the gap coming down a fraction each lap, everyone was waiting to see where Casadei would strike.
Flying through the fast Biondetti chicane on the penultimate lap, Casadei chopped Zaccone’s advantage to virtually zero. It placed him perfectly to get the slipstream he so needed to fire into the lead at Turn 1 as the final lap began. Zaccone briefly looked to respond on Casadei but soon realised he also had Garzo to worry about just behind.
In the end it was Casadei who expertly held on for victory, his first since the opening round of the season. But as one champion rejoiced, another grumbled as Jordi Torres (Openbank Aspar Team) would crash out on the final lap while battling for a top 10.
Zaccone’s second place means his three-year wait for victory goes on as Garzo completed the podium for his third of the season. Behind, Eric Granado (LCR E-Team) lost fourth place on the line to Kevin Zannoni (Openbank Aspar Team) as the featherweight Zannoni slipstreamed to the line, crucial extra points for his championship challenge.
Andrea Mantovani (KLINT Forward Factory Team) rounded out a decent weekend with sixth as Massimo Roccoli (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) once again impressed to take a fine seventh. Further down, 2024 race winners Nicholas Spinelli (Tech3 E-Racing) and Oscar Gutierrez (Axxis-MSI) took 10th and 11th respectively as they’ll look to Assen in the hope good fortunes return.
2024 Italian MotoE Results—MotoE Race One
| 1 |
Mattia Casadei |
(LCR E-Team) |
|
| 2 |
Alessandro Zaccone |
(Tech3 E-Racing) |
+0.269 |
| 3 |
Hector Garzo |
(Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) |
+0.514 |
| 4 |
Kevin Zannoni |
(Openbank Aspar Team) |
+1.408 |
| 5 |
Eric Granado |
(LCR E-Team) |
+1.443 |
| 6 |
Andrea Mantovani |
(KLINT Forward Factory Team) |
+2.054 |
| 7 |
Massimo Roccoli |
(Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) |
+3.917 |
| 8 |
Matteo Ferrari |
(Felo Gresini MotoE™) |
+3.919 |
| 9 |
Miquel Pons |
(Axxis-MSI) |
+4.666 |
| 10 |
Nicholas Spinelli |
(Tech3 E-Racing) |
+5.244 |
MotoE Race Two
In a thrilling FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship Race 2, that was in fact the first MotoE™ race of the day after the earlier was postpined, Kevin Zannoni (Openbank Aspar Team) stormed to victory in front of his home crowd to double his victory tally. Zannoni held on after a stunning last lap duel with reigning champion and nearest championship rival Mattia Casadei (LCR E-Team). Claiming second spot at the chequered flag, Casadei returned to the podium after difficult outings in Barcelona. Behind, Eric Granado (LCR E-Team) took third by just 0.011s after taking the spoils in a multiple-rider fight for the final podium place.
Once the lights went out, Alessandro Zaccone (Tech3 E-Racing) initially got the early jump before Zannoni powered past from fifth to lead into Turn 1. Casadei soon showed his hand as the #40 surged to the lead on lap three, with a daring move into San Donato. Setting a hot pace, Casadei, Zannoni and Nicholas Spinelli (Tech3 E-Racing) began to pull away from the pack, before Spinelli suddenly was forced into pulling off a miraculous save. Tucking the front through Materassi, Spinelli somehow wrestled his MotoE™ machine upright, continuing, albeit now down in fifth.
Kevin Zannoni wrapped up the second MotoE race win.
As the top two stretched their gap even further, Granado in third had his hands full with the battle for third involving eight riders at one point.
Into the final lap and Casadei took Turn 1 – San Donato – as his time to shine. Diving to the inside, he was ahead but an apex went begging, affording Zannoni just enough room to sneak back through on Casadei’s inside with a classic switchback. Zannoni then, just as he did in Barcelona, put together a perfect final lap. Cool, calm and collected under pressure, MotoE™’s newest race winner then crowned himself as MotoE™’s newest back-to-winner.
But as the applause began to roll in for victor Zannoni, all eyes turned to an incredible drag race to the line. Clanging elbows as the line came into view, Granado and veteran Massimo Roccoli (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) were locked in a photo finish, with the Brazilian just beating Roccoli to the line. Despite the disappointment of missing the podium, fourth is Roccoli’s best result in MotoE™.
Behind, the riders came thick and fast, with 12th placed Jordi Torres less than 2.4 seconds behind Granado in third. Andrea Mantovani (KILNT Forward Factory Team) completed the top five with polesitter Alessandro Zaccone (Tech3 E-Racing) sixth, just ahead of brighter performance from Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE) in seventh. Further down the order, third in the championship Oscar Gutierrez (Axxis-MSI) could only manage 10th, just behind the fading Spinelli in ninth.
2024 Italian MotoE Results—MotoE Race Two
| 1 |
Kevin Zannoni |
(Openbank Aspar Team) |
|
| 2 |
Mattia Casadei |
(LCR E-Team) |
+0.219 |
| 3 |
Eric Granado |
(LCR E-Team) |
+2.851 |
| 4 |
Massimo Roccoli |
(Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) |
+2.862 |
| 5 |
Andrea Mantovani |
(KLINT Forward Factory Team) |
+3.063 |
| 6 |
Alessandro Zaccone |
(Tech3 E-Racing) |
+3.168 |
| 7 |
Matteo Ferrari |
(Felo Gresini MotoE™) |
+3.818 |
| 8 |
Hector Garzo |
(Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) |
+3.837 |
| 9 |
Nicholas Spinelli |
(Tech3 E-Racing) |
+4.532 |
| 10 |
Oscar Gutierrez |
(Axxis-MSI) |
+4.944 |
2024 Italian MotoGP News—Friday
Ducati edging toward Martin?
Silly season was injected with amphetamines at Mugello. The buzz around the rider market intensified on Thursday when Italian sports paper stated Ducati had decided on championship leader Jorge Martin to be its factory rider next year over Marc Marquez. “For sure the deal is not done. It was a first contact and i think it went well. It’s with my manager now. I think it’s going the way that we want, which is important. My job is to ride so I will try to be really focused. As I said before, it is a really important weekend for my team and for Ducati so I will be really focused on that. Monday, Tuesday – we will have time to speak and let’s see what happens.”
It’s looking likely that Martin will be cloaked in all red next year.
Marquez rules out Pramac
The news of Martin potentially moving to Ducati’s factory team left many speculating on Marc Marquez’s future. The Spaniard was enigmatic throughout the build-up to the GP, but insisted he still has three options open for next year. They are believed to be the factory Ducati team, remaining at Gresini, albeit with a full factory bike, or a shock move to KTM.
“We’ve had some interesting conversations and the people who need to know what and where I will be comfortable already know. I’m very clever with my ideas and with what I can do. Outside the track I’m very comfortable because I have three different scenarios that I feel very comfortable with. It’s not like I have one option.”
Could Marquez make a shock switch to KTM next year?
Marquez did however rule out a switch to Pramac. “It’s not an option,” he said. “I will not move from one satellite team to another one.” This statement became all the more interesting when Pramac Team Manager Gino Borsoi told Spanish TV on Friday it would remain with Ducati in 2025 with two full factory bikes. Would Ducati run a fifth in Gresini?
Bezzecchi linked to Aprilia switch
A popular assumption a week ago was that Enea Bastianini would slot in to the spot vacated by Aleix Espargaro in Aprilia’s factory team. However, Espargaro himself dropped Marco Bezzecchi’s name in the mix. “(Enea’s) a fast rider,” said the Catalan. “I also like Bezzecchi. He has also still hunger, because he didn’t win so much yet in MotoGP because he’s very young.”
Marco Bezzecchi’s not had the year he hoped for so far. Could a switch to Aprilia be on the cards?
On this potential link up, Bezzecchi wasn’t shy to offer his opinion. “Aprilia is a fantastic project. They are working very well. Ducati is the best bike at the moment. The possibility to have a full factory bike in Ducati is a lot more difficult now but anyway not impossible. If Aprilia is a possibility, I will of course take a look. It’s a very nice team.”
Carlo Pernat, Bastianini’s manager, meanwhile, is believed to be pushing KTM to offer his rider a seat at Tech3 next year. “I have a preference, but it’s again early to speak about this because I want to understand better that situation after Mugello, after the Ducati decision,” Bastianini said.
Friday MotoGP
After an intense hour of Practice at the Gran Premio d’Italia Brembo, the important Q2 spots have been decided and it’s reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) returning to the top. He stamped some authority on the field at the end of Friday to set a magnificent 1:44.938 and pull quarter of a second clear. However, he was also then given a three-place grid penalty for the Grand Prix race on Sunday for an incident with Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), deemed to have been slow on line and disturbed the #73. Watch the incident below!
Meanwhile, the chasing pack is led by Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ Team) in second as Yamaha continued to make a statement of intent to fight further forward this weekend. Rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) made a brilliant recovery after a crash at Turn 13 to complete the top three, and the #31 also had a tip off in the morning but no harm done to rider nor pace.
Bagnaia blitzed them on Friday but will be docked three places for impeding Alex Marquez.
There was drama throughout the session and some after. Acosta’s crash forced the #31 to get a lift back to the paddock for his spare bike, and the Bagnaia decision was confirmed in the evening. The end of Practice was a frantic rush to the top too, deposing the leader before the final few minutes, which had been Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing).
Bagnaia became the first rider of the weekend to enter the 1:44 bracket as a handful of riders tried to find time in the closing minutes, but nobody was able to match the #1’s third sector. Rins shot back up to second though, and Acosta’s damage limitation was even more than that as he takes P3.
Further back in fourth after a brilliant end to Friday’s proceedings was Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Racing), who improved late in the session to make it four different bikes in the top four as he repped for Aprilia.
It was a welcome return to the pointy end for Alex Rins.
After dramas on the last couple of Fridays, meanwhile, Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) had none at Mugello and will have direct entry to Q2 for the first time since the Spanish GP. Has he solved the one-lap puzzle?
After a tough start to the day, Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) found pace with a new soft rear tyre to jump to sixth on the timesheets. Bastianini ended what was a good day for the factory Ducati team and finished ahead of Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), with the Championship leader having a slightly more muted day on the timesheets.
It was another good Friday for Acosta.
Alex Marquez, despite that incident with Bagnaia, also claimed his first direct entry to Q2 since the Spanish GP – taking P8 and capping off an excellent Friday for Gresini. Behind the #73 was Viñales, who dropped down to ninth ahead of Aprilia Racing teammate Aleix Espargaro, who took the final spot inside the vital top 10 for Saturday’s qualifying.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ Team’s Fabio Quartararo missed out by just 0.019 as teammate Rins moves through, and he’ll battle the likes of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder and Jack Miller, as well as Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team duo Marco Bezzecchi and last year’s polesitter Fabio Di Giannantonio.
2024 Italian MotoGP Results—Friday
| 1 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
1:44.938 |
| 2 |
Alex Rins |
(Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ Team) |
+0.273 |
| 3 |
Pedro Acosta |
(Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) |
+0.388 |
| 4 |
Miguel Oliveira |
(Trackhouse Racing) |
+0.402 |
| 5 |
Marc Marquez |
(Gresini Racing MotoGP™) |
+0.407 |
| 6 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
+0.465 |
| 7 |
Jorge Martin |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
+0.467 |
| 8 |
Alex Marquez |
(Gresini Racing MotoGP™) |
+0.474 |
| 9 |
Maverick Viñales |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+0.486 |
| 10 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+0.523 |
Friday Moto2
Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) ends Friday fastest at the Gran Premio d’Italia Brembo with a 1:50.841, but it was tight at the top with Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) a mere 0.011s behind and MB Conveyors SpeedUp duo Fermin Aldeguer and Alonso Lopez still within a tenth.
Somkiat Chantra returned to P1 for the first time in a long time on Friday.
Championship leader Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) and Roberts duelled for the top spot throughout the opening stage of the session before Chantra began to improve, the Thai rider then just able to deny both. Garcia got leapfrogged by more riders too, shuffled down to P8 by the end of play as Aron Canet (Fantic Racing), RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP’s Barry Baltus and Filip Salac (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) took fifth to seventh, respectively.
Barcelona winner Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) will want more than P12 when action continues on Saturday, and Catalan GP podium finisher Jake Dixon (CFMoto Inde Aspar Team) is looking for a big move up from P25.
2024 Italian Moto2 Results—Friday
| 1 |
Somkiat Chantra |
(Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) |
1:50.841 |
| 2 |
Joe Roberts |
(OnlyFans American Racing Team) |
+0.011 |
| 3 |
Fermin Aldeguer |
(MB Conveyors SpeedUp) |
+0.075 |
| 4 |
Alonso Lopez |
(MB Conveyors SpeedUp) |
+0.087 |
| 5 |
Aron Canet |
(Fantic Racing) |
+0.136 |
| 6 |
Barry Baltus |
(RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP) |
+0.215 |
| 7 |
Filip Salac |
(Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) |
+0.223 |
| 8 |
Sergio Garcia |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+0.278 |
| 9 |
Tony Arbolino |
(Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) |
+0.407 |
| 10 |
Manuel Gonzalez |
(QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) |
+0.534 |
Friday Moto3
CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team’s David Alonso is the benchmark to beat once again on Friday at the Gran Premio d’Italia Brembo, over half a second clear of Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP). Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) was third quickest as his quietly impressive 2024 continues, and the Japanese rider was the final competitor within seven tenths of the top.
Moto3’s man of the moment, David Alonso, topped the Friday running in Moto3.
Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) is next on the chase as the timesheets tighten up, with hundredths and thousandths measuring the gaps throughout the rest of the top ten and beyond. Rookie Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) impressed once again in fifth as he comes into Mugello off the back of his best finish yet, with Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) forced to settle for sixth by only 0.017.
One to watch as the lightweight class head back out for P2 will be Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), who is second in the Championship but ended P1 in 17th.
2024 Italian Moto3 Results—Friday
| 1 |
David Alonso |
(CFMoto Valresa Aspar Team) |
1:54.671 |
| 2 |
Collin Veijer |
(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
+0.536 |
| 3 |
Ryusei Yamanaka |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+0.697 |
| 4 |
Jose Antonio Rueda |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+1.417 |
| 5 |
Luca Lunetta |
(SIC58 Squadra Corse) |
+1.472 |
| 6 |
Ivan Ortola |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+1.489 |
| 7 |
Stefano Nepa |
(LEVELUP – MTA) |
+1.553 |
| 8 |
Joel Kelso |
(BOE Motorsports) |
+1.566 |
| 9 |
Adrian Fernandez |
(Leopard Racing) |
+1.620 |
| 10 |
Jacob Roulstone |
(Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) |
+1.626 |
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