Petrucci secures fairytale Mugello win

Italian Danilo Petrucci secured a fairytale MotoGP win at home in Mugello overnight, earning Ducati its third consecutive victory at the prized Tuscan circuit.

In what is already being touted as a race for the ages, MotoGP’s frontrunners gave an incredible display across the 23-lap race, with countless lead changes, fascinating strategy and incredible race craft.

In the end, it was Petrucci who held off a persistent Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) for a maiden class victory, while Andrea Dovizioso (Mission Winnow Ducati) came home a close third after missing his opportunity to strike for the lead on the last lap. Alex Rins (Suzuki Ecstar) finished a distant fourth while LCR Honda rider Taka Nakagami finished fifth on his 2018 machine.

MUGELLO MOTOGP RESULTS

After a promising lead-up to the race, Australian Jack Miller (Pramac Ducati) started from fifth and kept with the lead group until crashing out with 10 laps remaining.

Put simply, it was a red letter day for 28-year-old Petrucci, one of MotoGP’s most popular characters, and his Ducati team.

“It’s amazing. It’s unbelievable,” said an elated Petrucci, who became the 109th premier class Grand Prix winner

“At the beginning of this season I start to think maybe I never will (win) but then I adapt this strategy of making the best off-track, on-track without thinking about anything. I have no contract for next year, so I started to think about doing other things in my life.

“Andrea has helped me a lot this winter, now we have to think about the future.”

Going into the last lap after various lead changes, Dovizioso got ahead of Marquez at turn one but ran wide, leaving the door open for Petrucci to scurry back through and take the advantage, to the roar of the crowd.

Marquez and Dovizioso tried their best to get on terms with Petrucci and in the final corner, Marquez gained massively, but try as he might, Petrucci held on for his first ever win, ahead of the Repsol Honda Team rider and ‘Desmo Dovi’ in third.

The victory was significant for several reasons, not only for Petrucci’s confidence but his long-term job prospects; in recent weeks, Ducati has openly admitted that results in Mugello and Barcelona will decide who gets the second factory seat in 2020 between Petrucci and Miller.

Importantly, the result also sees Marquez extend his championship advantage to 12 points over Dovizioso after six rounds.

The Spaniard was measured on the result, acknowledging that you can’t win ‘em all.

“I’m happy. I got 20 points, I tried in the beginning to push with my pace but decided to follow and push in the last lap.”

Dovizioso was equally valiant in defeat and quick to congratulate his Ducati teammate on a maiden victory.

“Danilo was fast, he was able to stay at the front and do the same lap times as me and Marc,” he said. “I didn’t put myself in a bad position; I was managing the tyre, I didn’t push too hard and I did the right overtakes in the right moment. But, unfortunately, that corner (turn one) happened. I had to pick up the bike very quick and that’s the reason I also lost a position to Marc, so that is the negative part of the race.”

Dovizioso conceded his window for the 2019 title is getting ever-smaller, despite 12 rounds remaining.

But the Italian is primed for another big race in Barcelona in two weeks’ time, a track that has favoured Ducati in recent seasons.

“I’m so disappointed to lose the points here today, but I decide to work with Danilo because I saw some potential. He had to change just a few things and he’s done it, that’s why he won today. He needed that result for the future, so I’m happy for him,” he said.

Off the line and down to turn one for the first time, Marquez fended off his pole position advantage and got the hole-shot, ahead of a fast-starting Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) and Dovizioso, who got from ninth to third. Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) got a far from ideal start and went backwards, while Rins got a phenomenal start and climbed seven positions by the end of the opening lap.

In the early stages however, Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) was beginning to push on in the leading group, with Alex Rins making passes behind, taking Cal Crutchlow at turn one. Downfield, Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was into the points and chasing Jorge Lorenzo (Repsol Honda).

However, it wasn’t long before the first drama of the race would unfold, as home-hero Rossi tangled with Joan Mir (Suzuki Ecstar) at turn four, running across the gravel and rejoining in last place. A few laps later, on lap eight, the veteran Italian crashed at high speed at Arrabbiata 2, ending his hopes of success after what was already a tricky home round.

At the front of the field, fireworks were already being set off, as Rins and Dovi hit the front. Marquez was also being pushed back down the order, with 14 laps to go, as first, Danilo Petrucci got ahead of him and then, Jack Miller pushed his way through.

By now, Marquez was down in fifth and at the front of the field, Petrucci and Rins started to press hard. The leading group consisted of nine riders, with Crutchlow, Nakagami, Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing Ducati), Quartararo and Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). Soon though, the group began to fragment, with Francesco Bagnaia crashing out with 12 to go at the final corner, as his Italian GP hopes went up in smoke.

Despite momentarily losing touch, Miller put in the fastest lap of the race in fifth position, pulling himself back into contention. However, disaster struck the Australian as he crashed at turn four. For Miller, Mugello was the scene of a mixed emotions.

“It was a great race, I enjoyed it a lot and there was a lot of fighting for positions,” Miller said.

“I felt really comfortable in the group. Most of the race we were really conserving the tyre through the uphills and I saw with 10 laps that Petrucci and Marquez were going to start to push – most of the race before that we were in tyre saving mode.

“The next lap I did the fastest lap of the race trying to chase them. I braked a little early coming into turn five and released the brakes a little earlier, and as I released them I lost the front and tried to save it with my elbow. It was impossible to save.

“It was a heartbreaking end to a really strong race, but we were fighting for the victory again so we can be really happy about that.”

In Moto2, Australian Remy Gardner expressed disappointment after coming home in 13th place in a race won by Alex Marquez. Starting from 10th, Gardner put the result down to poor front end feel and an incident on the first lap that took him off the track momentarily.

“It was a very difficult race. I am extremely disappointed. I’m so sorry for the team, I was expecting a lot more for myself and the team,” he said.

“It has been a difficult weekend, we’ve never found a really good setting with the front end. I had bad luck in the race on the first lap and they took me off the track, making me lose up to 10 positions in two corners. I had to go up to 13th place and at least we got points.”

The MotoGP season resumes at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona from June 14-16.