FLORENCE – Pecco Bagnaia dispels the taboo of the sprint race by authoritatively winning the Mugello race 287 days after the last one (Austria 2023). The Ducati world champion took the lead of the race from the first corner and did not give up, 2nd Marc Marquez who tried to undermine Pecco in the final laps before making a small mistake at Scarperia. Big disappointment for Jorge Martin crashed (while he was 3rd) at San Donato with 4 laps to go, giving the podium to the excellent Pedro Acosta. Fourth the best Franco Morbidelli seen to date. Too bad for Enea Bastiani crashed at the first corner while in 2nd place after a racing contact with Martin.
Bagnaia shortens in the world championship: “Everything perfect”
Bagnaia was very satisfied with the race, confirming his solidity on the Mugello asphalt: “I hadn’t won the Sprint for ten months. In Barcelona we were very fast, it was essential to finish in this way. I enjoyed every ride. At the end I saw Martin fall from the big screen, I was convinced that he and I had created a gap in 3rd and so I increased the pace a little, then I realized at the finish line that Marc was 1″ behind and so I reopened. The Italian anthem? I don’t like booing others, the rest was fantastic. The people shouting excites me and I enjoy these special moments. The anthem started from the audience, we have a beautiful anthem“.
A perfect Saturday for Bagnaia who returns to winning in the Sprint but, above all, earn 12 points over his direct rival in the world championship Jorge Martin now 27 points behind with Marquez still in the wake, 32 behind his compatriot and 5 behind the world champion.
Bagnaia: “No one is happy with the stewards”
Pecco also returned to the issue of race direction: ”At the moment no driver is happy with the work of the steward panel, a change is needed and we’ll see if it comes. Many times very questionable decisions are made.’ At Portimao, Marc Marquez and I crashed and I was told that I wasn’t penalized because I crashed too. Today only Enea fell in the contact between Bastianini and Martin, yet there was no penalty for Jorge. It’s all very up-and-down and there is no logical thread in their choices”. Bagnaia then told a background story linked to his call-up yesterday afternoon to explain the misunderstanding between him and Alex Marquez which then cost the reigning world champion a penalty to be served in tomorrow’s race: ”While I was talking to them and having a serious conversation and I thought they were understanding my reasons, the press release came out about the relegation of three positions on the grid. There’s no way to talk to them, they don’t listen and they make some really questionable decisions’‘.
