Fabio Di Giannantonio has set the pace for the Italian GP weekend at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello. The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team rider finished with a lap of 1:46.242, continuing the momentum gained off the back of the last round. Read on for all the MotoGP FP1 results of the Brembo Grand Prix of Italy.
Familiar Faces and a Champion’s Return
We had a familiar face in the MotoGP paddock, one we’ve not seen in a lot of since their retirement from full-time racing in 2020. Cal Crutchlow was back on an LCR Honda, replacing Johann Zarco while the French rider awaits surgery on injuries sustained at the Catalunya GP.
Crutchlow took the calmer approach to the Friday morning session, easing back into the rhythm of a MotoGP race weekend. Álex Márquez, another rider who crashed horrifically in the last race, was also absent, replaced by Michele Pirro. After getting the green light to take part in the morning session, Marc Márquez took a backseat approach. The Ducati Lenovo Team rider waited in the garage, unimpressed, for track conditions to improve.
However, M.Márquez joined the circuit after more than ten minutes, finding his groove on a soft front and medium rear tyre. The #93 did ten minutes before returning to the garage, limping to his seat.
Italians On the Charge
With dry lines forming along a slightly damp Mugello circuit, riders took the corners with ease as the 45-minute FP1 session began. Jorge Martín was the first to come to the top of the board with a 1:51.695. However, the #89 backed off slightly, potentially still feeling the aftermath of crashing six times over the course of four days at the Catalan GP.
Aprilia Racing teammate and current championship leader, Marco Bezzecchi, clocked a lap in the 1:47s with Francesco Bagnaia close behind. The riders swapped positions on the board, with Martín and rookie Diogo Moreira following closely.
Slowly climbing up were a pack of Italian riders, including Luca Marini, Enea Bastianini, Franco Morbidelli, and Di Giannantonio. But the charge forward was halted by Fermín Aldeguer with a lap time of 1:46.916.
Final Push Goes Slightly Too Far
In true FP1 fashion, riders tested the limits of their machines and flirted with the circuit’s limits. Jack Miller had no choice but to go wide and into the gravel as he pulled out of Turn 1. At the same corner, Pedro Acosta took his frustration out on his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machine.
Just as it appeared the remainder of the session would be equally uneventful, things started heating up in the final minutes. Acosta banked an impressive time attack, but was quickly beaten by Di Giannantonio. Shortly after, Bagnaia came down in Turn 1 in what has to be the slowest roll-off seen in a long time. The #63 rode into the gravel, then carefully dropped the bike onto its side.
In the end, Di Giannantonio remained the sole Italian rider on top of the timesheets, with the remaining top ten all within a second.
The Top 10
P1: Fabio Di Giannantonio (#49) 1:46.242
P2: Jorge Martín (#89) +0.369
P3: Ai Ogura (#79) +0.438
P4: Maverick Viñales (#12) +0.452
P5: Jack Miller (#43) +0.502
P6: Pedro Acosta (#37) +0.552
P7: Fermín Aldeguer(#54) +0.674
P8: Francesco Bagnaia (#63) +0.729
P9: Raúl Fernández (#25) +0.830
P10: Franco Morbidelli (#21) +0.996
First Friday Session Done, A Crucial One to Go
M. Márquez still has to be cleared to continue on with the Italian GP weekend. The reigning world champion, who finished P15, will undergo another medical review before he is given the thumbs-up. There is certainly some Mugello magic in the air, but it’s currently building in anticipation. Riders and teams are keeping their cards close to their chest in the early stages of this weekend. But come Practice later in the afternoon, all bets will be off to advance straight into Q2. Join us as we continue our Italian GP weekend coverage.