Aprilia Racing’s Aleix Espargaro has set the pace ahead in the MotoGP™ Warm Up session for the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley. While Bologna manufacturer Ducati dominated Qualifying at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, their rivals from Noale went one-two in the last session before the race. Espargaro and team-mate Maverick Viñales spent much of the Warm Up flying in formation, setting best laps of 1:46.976 and 1:47.116 respectively.
The Captain and Top Gun continue their tandem riding! ????
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) May 29, 2022
As @AleixEspargaro now takes over at the head of the times! ????#MotoGP | #ItalianGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/3HIr4gFbCt
Ducati still had a strong presence near the top of the timesheet, however. Mooney VR46 Racing Team’s Marco Bezzecchi, who has qualified in the middle of the front row, was third-quickest on a 1:47.223, ahead of Prima Pramac Racing’s Johann Zarco on a 1:47.246. Japan was represented, in terms of bike and rider, by LCR Honda Idemitsu’s Takaaki Nakagami in fifth on a 1:47.414 while the Ducati Lenovo Team’s Francesco Bagnaia clocked a 1:47.460 to claim sixth for the Warm Up, and pole-sitter Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) was 14th on a 1:47.749. The track was damp in patches due to overnight rain, but the session ran without incident.