MotoGP Italian GP: Raul Fernandez wins Mugello Sprint as Aprilia locks out front row
Raul Fernandez dominated the MotoGP Sprint Race at Mugello, leading an Aprilia 1-2 ahead of Jorge Martin, while championship leader Marco Bezzecchi recovered from a poor start to finish fourth after securing pole position.
Aprilia's historic Saturday at Mugello
The Italian Grand Prix weekend at Mugello began with a historic performance from Aprilia. The Noale-based manufacturer locked out the entire front row during qualifying, with championship leader Marco Bezzecchi smashing the lap record to take pole position. He was joined by Trackhouse rider Raul Fernandez in second and factory teammate Jorge Martin in third, marking the first time Aprilia had achieved such a qualifying result at the Tuscan circuit.
Martin had already made headlines earlier in the weekend by setting an all-time MotoGP top speed record of 368.6 km/h during free practice.
I'm happy about that, we've set the historic top speed record, which has given me joy because until now I've been the fastest rider in history.
Sprint Race: Fernandez seizes control
The 11-lap Sprint Race saw an immediate shake-up. Marc Marquez, returning from injury, launched brilliantly from fourth on the grid to lead into the first corner. However, his physical condition after surgery following a crash at Le Mans prevented him from maintaining the pace, and he was quickly swallowed by the Aprilia duo. By the end of the opening lap, Fernandez had taken the lead ahead of Martin, with Diogo Moreira surprisingly running third.
Bezzecchi endured a disastrous start from pole, dropping to sixth position, while Francesco Bagnaia fell even further back to eleventh. Both Italians mounted recovery rides, with Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannantonio overtaking Marquez and Moreira to move into podium contention.
Mid-race drama and yellow flags
A yellow flag period for crashes involving Enea Bastianini and Franco Morbidelli allowed Fernandez to extend his advantage over Martin. Di Giannantonio, riding the VR46 Ducati, continued his impressive charge through the field, eventually securing the final podium position. Bezzecchi settled for fourth after his early setback, while Marquez held on for fifth ahead of Gresini's Fermin Aldeguer.
- 1. Raul Fernandez
- 0 seconds behind
- 2. Jorge Martin
- 1.289 seconds behind
- 3. Fabio Di Giannantonio
- 3.287 seconds behind
- 4. Marco Bezzecchi
- 4.481 seconds behind
- 5. Marc Marquez
- 9.055 seconds behind
- 6. Fermin Aldeguer
- 9.758 seconds behind
- 7. Francesco Bagnaia
- 10.983 seconds behind
- 8. Ai Ogura
- 11.411 seconds behind
- 9. Pedro Acosta
- 11.809 seconds behind
- 10. Diogo Moreira
- 12.932 seconds behind
Championship implications
Martin's second-place finish allowed him to close the gap to teammate Bezzecchi in the championship standings, recovering three points on the leader. The battle between the two Aprilia riders remains intense, with only fifteen points separating them heading into the weekend. Fernandez's victory, meanwhile, demonstrated the strength of the Trackhouse satellite operation.
Looking ahead to Sunday
The full-length feature race is scheduled for Sunday at 14:00 local time, with a warm-up session earlier in the morning. Bezzecchi will start from pole position, aiming to convert his qualifying pace into a race victory and extend his championship lead. The Italian Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky and TV8.
When you get off the bike you don't see anything, you see spots. But I exited the last corner very well, I controlled the wheelie with a bump there, and on top of that I was behind two riders, it was brutal.
