This week, we’re racing in a postcard. A quarter of the way through the season and we’re in the magical hills of Tuscany; MotoGP madness takes over Mugello as the Brembo Grand Prix of Italy brings us Round 7. Last year’s epic fights in the Tissot Sprint and Grand Prix gave the fans a blockbuster and with an Italian leading the Championship, they’ll be cheering on their home heroes for more of the same in 2026.
BEZZECCHI IN CHARGE: Aprilia to bring the Mugello magic
For the first time since 2023, the top of the Championship standings belongs to Italy. Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) endured a tricky weekend last time in Barcelona but extended his Championship lead over teammate Jorge Martin from one point to 15. Never on a Grand Prix podium at Mugello, ‘Bez’ hopes that he change that stat whilst for Martin, he’s been on the Mugello podium in the last two GPs contested here but missed last year and turns up with Aprilia for the first time. 0 points scored in Catalonia despite big potential means the 2024 World Champion must strike back. Aprilia will also relish the chance to take on and defeat Ducati, here more than anywhere.
HEADING HOME ON A HIGH: ‘Diggia’ a winner, Acosta aims to hit back
Breaking up the Aprilia party at the front of the field, however, Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) arrives from the top step – his second win in MotoGP after his 2023 Qatar GP success, and he did it in front of the big boss. He was on the podium at Mugello in 2025. For rival Pedro Acosta Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) it’s instead enemy territory. ‘The Shark’ was on pole and 0.041s away from Sprint victory on Saturday in Barcelona and taken out a few hundred metres from home on Sunday – it wasn’t to be. Mugello offers a chance to get himself back in the game. Both riders are 26 and 50 points behind Bezzecchi respectively, after having been locked much closer together before Barcelona.
HEADLINE MAKERS: Ogura and Fernandez in the top six
The other Aprilias aren’t far away elsewhere in the standings with all four in the top six overall, led by Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) in fifth place and followed by his teammate Raul Fernandez in sixth. Both had controversial Catalan GPs, with Fernandez clashing with Martin, whilst Ogura took out Acosta on the last lap at the last corner and was given a subsequent penalty. Both were in the top ten at Mugello last year, both want redemption and more this year.
CONTENDERS: 2025 victory chasers and home heroes
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) won at Mugello for three years straight between 2022 and 2024 but was only fourth at the flag in 2025. After his P3 in Barcelona – a first podium since his victory at Motegi last year – can he give the Tifosi the result they’re looking for? Nowhere else on the calendar will see him more fired up to do so. Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol), Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) and Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) all add to the home charge, with Marini tackling Mugello off the back of his best result of the year last time out with P6.
BEST IN BARCELONA: form critical for Aldeguer and Quartararo
Fermin Aldeguer’s (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) sudden P2 in Barcelona showed that whilst he’s not at full fitness, he’s still a force to be reckoned with. Was it a turning point before more of the same in Mugello? Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) came home fifth for his best result of 2026, a big boost; it was a tricky Italian GP in 2025 for the 2021 World Champion but back-to-back top six finishes bring encouragement. Teammate Alex Rins was 14th last weekend and got into the points at Mugello in 2025.
A joint-best Sunday finish of 2026 for Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) gives him Mugello motivation, whilst Diogo Moreira’s (Pro Honda LCR) Barcelona P9 was a personal best. P13 may be his best result of 2026 for Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) from last weekend but that doesn’t tell the full story, with the 2020 World Champion handed a tyre pressure penalty after taking P2 on track on Sunday in Barcelona – will his luck change in Italy?
BOUNCING BACK: heartbreaks, heroics and hunger
Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) was also a season-best P11 on his return to action and was in the top ten throughout Mugello’s 2025 weekend. Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) made it back-to-back points for the first time in 2026 whilst teammate Toprak Razgatlioglu tackles Mugello for the first time in MotoGP and seeks a return to the points. They’ll add be looking to build up over the next back-to-back, starting in Mugello.
Finally, we know Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) will be sidelined from Mugello, but we don’t yet know who might replace them. Stay tuned for that.
Meanwhile, we still await a definitive sign on whether we will see Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) back in action.After a crash on Saturday, the reigning Champion withdrew from Le Mans to undergo a procedure – already planned for after Barcelona – on his shoulder. Will he be back in action? We’ll find out soon.
Tune in for the Bremo Grand Prix of Italy this weekend as MotoGP touches down in Tuscany.