Marc Marquez wins Italian Grand Prix to delight Ducati fans on home soil
SCARPERIA E SAN PIERO, Italy - Ducati's Marc Marquez won the Italian Grand Prix after a dogfight for podium places at the Mugello Circuit on Sunday, taking the chequered flag ahead of his brother Alex to maintain his iron grip on the riders' championship.
Gresini Racing's Alex briefly led the race early on before Marc took control, while Fabio Di Giannantonio of VR46 Racing claimed third place after snatching the final podium spot from his Italian compatriot Francesco Bagnaia.
Home favourite Bagnaia also led the race in the initial stages but the Italian, who had won the last three races at Mugello, was overshadowed by the Marquez brothers and could only finish fourth in front of his home fans.
Marc's victory was also the 93rd win of his career across all classes, matching his motorcycle number, and the Spaniard celebrated by planting a Ducati flag in front of the home fans who once saw him as a rival when he was with Honda.
"Amazing feeling... three Ducatis on the podium, to win here (at Mugello) in the red," said Marc, who now leads Alex by 40 points while Bagnaia is 110 points back in third.
"I already understood this morning that was super special for them, even for me, because I feel part of them. Super happy.
"We managed the race... I was calm and then when the tyres dropped a bit, I started to give everything. Happy to take the 37 points in this amazing weekend."
Fresh from claiming his historic 100th career pole with a blistering lap record and Saturday's unlikely sprint victory, Marc found himself locked in a fraternal battle with Alex -- a running theme this season.
The opening laps unfolded as a masterclass in close-quarter racing between the two factory Ducati machines -- their special Italian Renaissance livery flashing through Mugello's sweeping turns -- while Alex stayed on their tail.
HIGH-SPEED DRAMA
The crowd erupted when Bagnaia briefly snatched the lead from Marc after turn one but what followed was high-speed drama as they traded positions, occasionally making heart-stopping contact with each other.
Disaster nearly struck when Bagnaia, pushing his bike to the limit, touched Marc's rear tyre as he was forced to brake hard and surrender his position to Alex.
Fans in the grandstand witnessed a spectacular moment when all three riders thundered into turn one abreast, a three-wide gamble that saw Alex briefly seize control, drop to third on the brakes and then reclaim the lead moments later on the exit.
But Marc eventually broke free, leaving brother Alex to doggedly defend second position against a relentless Bagnaia.
However, the Italian did not have the late-race pace to catch up and he was soon forced to defend the final podium place, with Di Giannantonio looking to upstage his compatriot.
With two laps to go, Di Giannantonio made his move on turn seven as he squeezed past the twice champion and raced away to claim his first podium finish at Mugello.
"I knew that I had to risk a lot to take him but at the end, the last lap, I said, 'Okay, let's go for it,' and we've done it," Di Giannantonio said.
"My first podium in MotoGP Mugello, in front of this fantastic group of fans." REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
Yildiz double powers Juventus to 4-1 Club World Cup victory over Wydad Casablanca
Juventus' Kenan Yildiz celebrates scoring their third goal with Khephren Thuram and Timothy Weah. PHOTO: REUTERS PHILADELPHIA - Kenan Yildiz struck twice and played a key role in an own goal as Juventus secured a 4-1 win over Morocco's Wydad Casablanca in the Club World Cup on June 22 to move to the verge of qualifying for the last 16. The Italian side top Group G with six points after two matches, three clear of Manchester City, who play UAE's Al Ain later on June 22. Juve will reach the knockouts if Al Ain fail to beat the Premier League club, who can also book their last-16 berth with victory. Both Al Ain and Wydad remain without points and on the brink of elimination. Juventus made the breakthrough in the sixth minute with a well-worked team move that ended with Wydad defender Abdelmounaim Boutouil scoring an own goal. Following a clever through ball from Khephren Thuram, Yildiz's angled shot deflected off Boutouil and wrong-footed goalkeeper Mehdi Benabid. The 20-year-old Turkish forward doubled Juventus's lead in the 16th minute with a sublime strike from the edge of the box. Receiving the ball in space, Yildiz unleashed a ferocious effort into the top-right corner, leaving Benabid rooted to the spot. Wydad pulled one back in the 25th minute following a defensive lapse from Juve. Nordin Amrabat pounced on a misplaced clearance, threading a precise ball to Thembinkosi Lorch, who calmly lobbed Juve keeper Michele Di Gregorio. The goal ignited the Moroccan fans, whose flares created a cloud of red and black smoke that halted play for several minutes, until the smoke dissipated. Needing at least a draw to keep alive any realistic hope of reaching the last 16 after a 2-0 loss to Manchester City in their opener, Wydad pressed high and unsettled Juventus. However, the Italian side regained control in the second half, helped by the introduction of Teun Koopmeiners for Weston McKennie. Andrea Cambiasso went close to restoring Juve's two-goal cushion in the 55th minute, striking the post with a close-range volley from a corner. The decisive third goal eventually came in the 69th minute, with Yildiz again the protagonist. He received a neat pass from Randal Kolo Muani, cut inside to evade a defender, and coolly slotted home from close range. Juventus' Andrea Cambiaso and Kenan Yildiz in action with Wydad Casablanca's Nordin Amrabat and Fahd Moufi. PHOTO: REUTERS Substitute Dusan Vlahovic sealed the win deep into added time, converting from the penalty spot after being fouled by Guilherme Ferreira. The Italian giants, unbeaten for two months under coach Igor Tudor, will look to maintain their momentum in their final group match against Manchester City, while Wydad and Al Ain are staring at early elimination. REUTERS More on this Topic Izaac Quek becomes first local-born Singapore player to join China Table Tennis Super League Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
Salernitana v Sampdoria Serie B relegation playoff abandoned amid fan disorder
The second leg of the Serie B relegation playoff between hosts Salernitana and Sampdoria was abandoned on Sunday after home fans threw smoke bombs and seats onto the pitch. Sampdoria were leading 2-0 when the match was initially postponed in the 65th minute as Salernitana fans hurled objects onto the pitch. Play briefly resumed but was ultimately abandoned amid chaotic scenes at the Stadio Arechi. According to Italian media, Sampdoria are likely to be awarded a 3-0 win, which would secure a 5-0 aggregate victory and guarantee their escape from what had seemed certain relegation to the third tier. Sampdoria, Italian champions in 1991, were initially relegated to Serie C for the first time in their 78-year history, only to be handed a lifeline after the season ended when Brescia were docked eight points, dropping them below Sampdoria and granting the Genoa club a place in the relegation playoff. Salernitana also suffered a setback after being hit by food poisoning, which led to the second leg being postponed following Sampdoria's 2–0 home win in the first match. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
8 hours ago
- Straits Times
Yildiz double powers Juventus to 4-1 victory over Wydad Casablanca
Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Group G - Juventus v Wydad Casablanca - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. - June 22, 2025 Juventus' Kenan Yildiz scores their third goal IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Caean Couto REUTERS Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Group G - Juventus v Wydad Casablanca - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. - June 22, 2025 Juventus' Kenan Yildiz celebrates scoring their third goal with Khephren Thuram and Timothy Weah REUTERS/Lee Smith Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Group G - Juventus v Wydad Casablanca - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. - June 22, 2025 Juventus' Andrea Cambiaso and Kenan Yildiz in action with Wydad Casablanca's Nordin Amrabat and Fahd Moufi IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Caean Couto REUTERS PHILADELPHIA - Kenan Yildiz struck twice and played a key role in an own goal as Juventus secured a 4-1 win over Morocco's Wydad Casablanca in the Club World Cup on Sunday. The Italian side top Group G with six points after two matches, three clear of Manchester City, who play UAE's Al Ain later on Sunday. Both Al Ain and Wydad have no points. Juventus started brightly at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field, taking the lead in the sixth minute. Yildiz was instrumental in the opener as his angled shot forced Wydad defender Abdelmounaim Boutouil to turn the ball into his own net in his attempt to block it. Ten minutes later, Yildiz unleashed a spectacular strike from the edge of the box into the top-right corner to give Juventus a 2-0 lead, but a mistake by the Italian defence gifted Thembinkosi Lorch a goal to reduce the deficit in the 25th minute. Juve, however, extended their lead again through Yildiz's brilliance, with the 20-year-old Turkish forward scoring their third goal from close-range in the 69th minute, with substitute Dusan Vlahovic wrapping up their commanding win from the penalty spot deep in added time. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
