Jorge Lorenzo wins the Italian MotoGP!
And what a win it was. He began from the second row, had engine trouble before the race, and pulled a blinder to take a lead on Rossi. Things may have got easier for the riders down the grid with Rossi’s retirement, but some solid racing in Mugello today. Marc Marquez fought until the last moments – literally, managing to seize a lead from Lorenzo with half a lap to go. Unfortunately that did not pay off in the end, with Lorenzo taking the inside line on his compatriot – and beautifully.
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That gave Lorenzo an inch of a victory at Mugello – his fifth here!
Marc Marquez isn’t done yet! Now he’s taken the lead for the first time this race – and it’s the FINAL LAP! Marquez – Lorenzo – Marquez – and miliseconds from the finish line and it’s Lorenzo who wins by an absolute hair!
Andrea Iannone is putting up a fight too! He’s moved up to 4th and now he’s chasing Dovizioso! It’s Dovizioso, Iannone and Pedrosa all within inches of each other with Lorenzo and Marquez further up ahead. Looking like it’ll be another Lorenzo win but now Marquez is trying to fight for P1 with 4 laps to go!
Disaster strikes! Valentino Rossi, polesitter, home favourite and fairly comfortable in P2, has been forced to retire from the race.
His engine starts smoking slightly, and then, as he tries to continue fighting for the win, Rossi’s engine starts billowing white fumes! That’s his race over and suddenly Mugell has gone silent. It’s given Lorenzo a comfortable lead with Marc Marquez in P2 and Andrea Dovizioso in third.
Dovizioso will stay with Ducati next year – meanwhile, teammate Iannone moves to Suzuki to replace Maverick Vinales.
What a fight between the Yamaha teammates! It’s Lorenzo v Rossi all the way and Rossi’s nipping at his heels, trying to grab every chance he gets. The gap has been decreasing steadily but Rossi keeps missing out at the last moment! Marc Marquez is now in podium spot with P3 and HE is putting up a fight with archrival and one-time mentor Valentino Rossi to seize P2 from the Italian!
AND THEY’RE OFF! Straightaway there’s a crash – Loris Baz, Miller both out – and JORGE LORENZO TAKES THE LEAD! From fifth to P1 already as Rossi is in P2 – with Aleix Espargaro in third! It’s all happening.
Almost race time! It’s a rousing support for Valentino Rossi, for whom it’s a home race! The 37-year-old is welcomed to yellow flares, t-shirts and shouts of Vale! Vale!
Not difficult to see they’re backing the polesitters.
The 6th race on the MotoGP calendar, the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello sees Movistar Yamaha MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi in pole position. The Italian racer has won at Mugello 7 times in the premier class, and finished on the podium on three further occasions.
He also has the added advantage of home support in Mugello.
Qualifying in Italy saw somewhat of a surprise, with Suzuki’s Maverick Vinales finishing in 2nd ahead of Andrea Iannone of Ducati. Local driver Iannone had led the final practice session and looked strong going into qualifying, so the team will take heart from that given Iannone’s teammate Andrea Dovizioso did not even make it out of first qualifying.
Double world champion Marc Marquez of Repsol Honda began the second row with a 4th place qualifying finish, while Rossi’s Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo qualified in 5th. The reigning world champion is also the reigning race winner in Italy.
That will not have been an ideal finish for the local team; Lorenzo, however, is in his final year with Yamaha, and announce earlier this year he would move to Ducati for the 2016 season.
Interestingly, 21-year-old Vinales, who finished just behind Rossi, will be the legendary Italian’s teammate at Movistar Yamaha MotoGP from next year, replacing Lorenzo – a positive sign for the legacy team.
Marc Marquez led the championship standings until the French MotoGP at Le Mans, where he crashed out – surrendering the championship lead to reigning champion to Jorge Lorenzo.
Predictions
