After the drama punctuating the start of the Moto3™ race at Le Mans, Joan Mir (Leopard Racing) used the shortened 16 lap race to grow his lead in the title fight to some margin – 34 points – as some of his key rivals faltered. Polesitter Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) crashed out, and race leader Romano Fenati (Marinelli Rivacold Snipers) also slid from in front of Mir to watch his rival disappear into the distance. But Mugello is Fenati’s home turf, and the hard-charging Italian will never give up without a fight.
Unbelievable scenes in #Moto3! Nearly half the field down in one turn!#FrenchGP pic.twitter.com/OneoWHKfce
— MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) 21 May 2017
Martin will be another aiming to stop Mir’s momentum in its tracks, as well as Jerez winner Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0) – now third in the standings – and British Talent Team rider John McPhee. Moving up after a slower start to the season is another home threat at Mugello – Del Conca Gresini Moto3’s Fabio Di Giannantonio – who has bounced back from a collarbone break in preseason to now sit sixth in the standings on a roll.
The Italians don’t stop there. Andrea Migno (Sky Racing Team VR46) currently leads the KTM charge in seventh, and both he and teammate Nicolo Bulega will be searching for more on home turf. Enea Bastianini (Estrella Galicia 0,0) and Niccolo Antonelli (Red Bull KTM Ajo) are two more home heroes ready for a fight, and seek to write a different chapter in the story of their seasons so far – with no better place to begin.
The Italian presence on the Moto3™ grid is a true army of talent, and Mugello is a home stage like few others. But will the locals fly the flag, or will Mir and Martin be able to spoil the party?