Mugello cooked up a classic, with Francesco Bagnaia taking a double win at the Italian GP. That means the Ducati Lenovo Team rider hauled home the maximum points on offer, and as a result, he now holds a commanding lead in the title race. As the curtain comes down on Round 6, what is the state of play in the Championship chase?
As mentioned, Pecco’s perfection in front of an adoring home crowd leaves him with a 21-point advantage over his nearest rival, Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team). Ahead of the visit to Tuscany, a solitary point separated the two, but after Bagnaia’s utter dominance, he added a hefty 20 points to the gap.
Hot on the heels of the Italian duo is Jorge Martin. Having already secured a victory in the Tissot Sprint at Le Mans, the Prima Pramac rider once again showcased his talent this weekend by standing on the podium twice. He finished third in Saturday's Sprint and, on Sunday, his soft tyre gamble paid off brilliantly. Martin clinched a fantastic second-place finish at the Oakley Grand Prix of Italy, accumulating an impressive total of 59 points from the last two races. This remarkable improvement is highlighted by the fact that the Madrid-born rider earned only 48 points in the first four races of the season, placing him just 3 points behind Bezzecchi.
Among the top five riders in the Championship standings, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) had the most disappointing performance in Italy. Although he managed to secure a fifth-place finish in Sunday's race, his chances were hampered by a 'long lap' penalty that prevented him from fighting for points in the Tissot Sprint on Saturday. As a result, Binder leaves Mugello with a modest 11-point haul. This places him 15 points behind the top three, while Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing), who has been consistently strong, is closing in on Binder. The Frenchman sits just four points behind. Zarco has delivered exceptional performances in Le Mans and Mugello, including two podium finishes, but that elusive maiden MotoGP™ win still escapes him.
Next up is the Sachsenring, a traditional stronghold of Marc Marquez. Can the Repsol Honda rider throw a spanner in the works of Bagnaia’s Championship charge, or will a new King of the Ring emerge!?
Top 10:
1. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) - 131 points
2. Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) - 110 points
3. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) - 107 points
4. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) - 92 points
5. Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) - 88 points
6. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) - 72 points
7. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) - 62 points
8. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) - 54 points
9. Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia Racing) - 54 points
10. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) - 53 points