Bagnaia and Bastianini Shine at Mugello in Ducati 1-2 Finish
Francesco Bagnaia and Enea Bastianini delivered a stunning performance for the Ducati Lenovo Team at the Brembo Italian Grand Prix, held at the Mugello International Circuit. With the home crowd cheering them on, Bagnaia took the victory while Bastianini secured second place, both riders showcasing their prowess aboard the Desmosedici GP machines adorned with special livery honoring Italy’s national team.
Starting from fifth on the grid, Bagnaia had a flawless launch, swiftly moving into the lead within the first two corners. The reigning world champion controlled the race expertly, setting a new race lap record twice and eventually pulling away from his competitors in the final laps. Bagnaia crossed the finish line eight-tenths of a second ahead of his teammate, marking his first full points score since the Austrian Grand Prix last year and achieving three consecutive wins at Mugello—a feat not seen since 2012.
“It was an incredible race. It wasn’t easy as I was fifth on the grid, but the strategy of going for the outside line worked out perfectly, also due to Maverick (Viñales) running a little wide. I started dictating the pace from the get-go, but it was hard to manage the rear-end of the bike as the bike was moving a lot at the front, meaning I could only be effective for a couple of laps each time. In the end we were able to get the win in what was a fantastic weekend, with an incredible atmosphere coming from the crowd I love. To witness the sea of people below the podium was crazy. I’m also happy for Enea and for the great race he had. Thank you Mugello, you all were fantastic,” Bagnaia said after the race.
Bastianini also had an excellent start, remaining a strong contender for the podium throughout the race. With three laps to go, he overtook Marc Márquez for third place and then rapidly closed the gap to Jorge Martín. In a dramatic final move, Bastianini overtook Martín at the last corner, securing second place just behind Bagnaia.
“This podium finish in front of our home crowd was incredible. Something hadn’t been working right in recent times, but we fixed the issues and today, we really pushed to the limit. I’m very happy: I had a little bit of a slip in terms of form in the middle of the race, but after being overtaken by Marc (Márquez) I realised the time had come to start pushing. During the final lap I saw that Jorge (Martín) was getting closer and closer and there I understood that second place was really possible. I managed to do so at the final corner and I’m very happy. I’d like to dedicate this win to my dog, who passed away last week. In a manner of speaking, she was my baby!” Bastianini remarked.
The Ducati Lenovo Team’s double podium finish at Mugello solidifies their position at the top of the team standings with 267 points, while Ducati leads the manufacturers’ standings with 241 points. With the seventh Grand Prix of the season completed, Bagnaia now sits 18 points behind championship leader Jorge Martín, while Bastianini is fourth, 57 points off the top spot.
The battle for the third podium spot was equally intense, with Jorge Martin from Pramac Racing and Marc Marquez of the Repsol Honda Team going head-to-head. Martin ultimately secured third place, leaving Marquez to settle for fourth.
“We missed out on the podium, but we did a positive race. I couldn’t overtake Bastianini and when he passed me with two laps ago, it seemed as though he was on fresh tyres. Both Pecco and him were really strong. We’re leaving with a few more points in the standings and we’re very positive ahead of the next two back-to-back races. We’ll keep working during the test day in order to further improve our feeling,” concluded Marquez.
The Mugello race was a blend of high-speed drama and strategic excellence, with Bagnaia’s impeccable ride standing out as the day’s highlight. This victory strengthens his lead in the championship standings and sends a clear signal to his competitors.
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