Italian MotoGP, Mugello – Free Practice (1) Results

* Rookie

Official Mugello MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Fabio Quartararo FRA Yamaha 1m 45.187s (2021)
Fastest race lap:
Johann Zarco FRA Ducati 1m 46.810s (2021)

Takaaki Nakagami leads opening practice for the Italian MotoGP at Mugello.

With wet weather a threat throughout the weekend, Nakagami was among the riders to fit new tyres for a late time attack, finishing a substantial 0.408s clear of Aleix Espargaro, whose Aprilia factory announced a new deal with RNF for the 2023 season this morning.

Marc Marquez, who said yesterday he would know ‘straight away from FP1’ how his weekend would go, was only 19th.

The fastest straight of the season saw plenty of revised aero parts for the likes of Yamaha, KTM, Honda and Aprilia, the back of Lorenzo Savadori’s RS-GP sporting a small rear wing.

Fabio Quartararo leads the MotoGP standings by just four points from Enea Bastianini after the Gresini Ducati rider’s third victory of the season at Le Mans, with Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro just eight points from the top.

Quartararo won last year’s Mugello race after Francesco Bagnaia ed from the lead on lap 2, but can the Frenchman again compensate for his M1’s lack of speed along the fastest straight on the MotoGP calendar?

Local legend Valentino Rossi will have his #46 officially retired from MotoGP on Saturday.

The official MotoGP top speed record of 362.4km/h (225.2mph), first set by Johann Zarco at Qatar 2021, was equalled by Brad Binder at Mugello last season.

Test riders Michele Pirro (Ducati) and Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia) are making their latest wild-card appearances this weekend.
 

2022 Italian Grand Prix – MotoGP schedule (UK Time):

Friday May 27

8.55am-9.40am – Free Practice 1

1.10pm-1.55pm – Free Practice 2

Saturday May 28

8.55am-9.40am – Free Practice 3

12.30pm-1pm – Free Practice 4

1.10pm-1.25pm – Qualifying 1

1.35pm-1.50pm – Qualifying 2

Sunday May 29

8.40am-9am – Warm-up

1pm – Race