Fabio Di Giantantonio was fastest at Italy’s Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello during MotoGP World Championship practice on Friday afternoon. Riding his Michelin-shod Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team Ducati Desmosedici GP26, the Italian rider covered the 3.26-mile (5.25 km) road course in 1:44.808, leading the 22-rider field.
Francesco Bagnaia was second best with a 1:44.899 in the Lenovo Team Ducati Desmosedici GP26.
Ene Bastianini was third on the Red Bull KTM Tech3 RC16 with a 1:44.911 lap.
Giannantonio’s team-mate Franco Morbidelli in the Ducati Desmosedici GP25 was fourth in 1:44.959.
Fermin Aldeguer finished fifth in the first practice session on the BK8 Gresini Racing Ducati Desmosedici GP26 with a time of 1:45.004.
More from the MotoGP press release:
D’Giannantonio secured a P1 double on Friday as Acosta faced Q1 at Mugello. The VR46 Racing Team rider stole the show at the front of the Italian 1-2-3-4, the #37 having a tough day as Marc Marquez bounced back to take the Q2 spot.
An Italian-flavored P1 double duty was on the menu for Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team Fabio Di Giannantonio, with the Catalan GP winner serving up a treat as the rider heading into the weekend’s action at Mugello. The Italian’s 1:44.808 was 0.091s quicker than second-placed Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), who in turn was 0.012s.
Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) returned to action with a very strong P6, while Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) missed the Q2 cut after a disappointing day at the office.
The first exchanges FT pair of red flags
Following a morning of wet weather, Friday afternoon practice at Mugello started in dry conditions and at the front of the timesheets in the early stages was three-time Italian GP winner Bagnaia, Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) in the first two gates.
After coming through FP1 unscathed, Marc Marquez was declared fit for the rest of the weekend, and by midway through the session the reigning world champion was 11Th The fastest, 0.566s behind his partner’s time
The first was for Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team); The second title race leader was Bezeci. A 1:45.024 was top of the table with just over 30 minutes to go on fresh, soft Michelin tires and red flags from Fabio Quattararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) after crashing out of Turn 4, the Frenchman and his Yamaha sliding down the road into Turn 5 and kicking a lot of rocks. In the middle of the peak, a short stop is called for the session. More importantly, Quatararo got to his feet and quickly returned to the box.
Soon after practice resumed, another Yama star was on board. By this time, Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) was down in turn 1, with the Australian – who was P19 at the time – all safe.
Heading into the final 12 minutes, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) suffered a technical problem exiting pit lane, and the RC16 was backed up against the wall at the 1.1km mark due to a broken spot in South Africa, red flags again flying to allow the marshals to recover the broken KTM.
Clock Attack Mode: Held.
We then had 11 minutes and 45 seconds of clockwork on Friday. Marc Marquez and Acosta stayed outside the top 10 as did world champions Quattararo and Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) with eight minutes remaining as Miller moved up to P3 to push Bastianini out of the top 10.
With just over five minutes to go, a familiar name moved up to P1. Limited number 93. Marc Marquez’s 1:45.010 saw the reigning champion jump from P16 to the top spot, but the Spaniard dropped several quick laps to consolidate his position in P5. Di Giannantonio, Bagnaia, Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) clocked faster than the returning Marquez, which saw Martin lose a top 10 position with two minutes to go.
At the same time, Bezecicci and Bastianini have secured themselves into the top five as we lock eyes with Martin. P13, the title hunter was chasing time. And he managed to get one, right, to P8 at the checkered flag – but that’s all he needed. It was Aprilia rider Ogura who lost after Martin’s pneumatic late charge, the Japanese rider dropped to P11, and another rider who failed to make Friday’s top 10 was Acosta. A mistake on the final lap meant #37 finished P13 on Day 1, with Q1 awaiting the rider P4 in the World Championship.
Your Q2 qualifications
No such worries for Di Giannantonio though. Double Friday P1 on home turf? Just what the doctor ordered. Literally. Bagnaia, Bastianini and Morbidelli made it 1-2-3-4 at Mugello, Italy. The home faithful will be rejoicing as Aldgar closed out the five.
The return of Marc Marquez was amazing; The champion sailed into Q2 in P6, while Bezcicci led the Aprilia in P7. Martin was P8, 0.3s from Diggia, with Rins in P9 on top of them in 10th, showing a good job for the Yamaha rider on Friday. And speaking of top jobs, congratulations to rookie Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) as the Brazilian secured his first automatic Q2 entry in P10.
Coming up: TISSOT SPRINT Saturday
That wasn’t a bad opening day at Mugello, was it? Some shocks, some highlights, some very close moments. See you tomorrow for the Tissot Sprint Saturday.
MotoGP Italian GP practice results!
Post MotoGP: Giannantonio’s fastest Friday afternoon at Mugello It appeared at first Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle riding, racing and technology news.
 road course in 1:44.808, topping the field of 22 riders. Francesco Bagnaia was second-best with a 1:44.899 on his Lenovo Team Ducati Desmosedici GP26. Enea Bastianini was third with a lap of 1:44.911 on his Red Bull KTM Tech3 RC16. Di Giannantonio's teammate, Franco Morbidelli, got fourth on Ducati Desmosedici GP25 with a time of 1:44.959. Fermin Aldeguer finished the first practice session fifth on his BK8 Gresini Racing Ducati Desmosedici GP26 with a lap time of 1:45.004. More from a press release issued by MotoGP: Di Giannantonio earns Friday P1 double as Acosta faces Q1 at Mugello. The VR46 Racing Team rider steals the show to front an Italian 1-2-3-4, Marc Marquez returns to clinch a Q2 spot, while){kind=link}