VOLUME 59 ISSUE 22 JUNE 1, 2022 P85
BY RENNIE SCAYSBROOK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE
T
he Italian MotoGP at
Mugello—one of the pre-
mier jewels in the grand
prix crown nestled in the rolling
Tuscan countryside. This is the
race you want to win if you're an
Italian. Even more so if you're an
Italian on an Italian machine.
Francesco Bagnaia (Lenovo
Ducati) added his name in 2022
to the list of Italians who've won
at Mugello, putting him along-
side such home legends as
Valentino Rossi, Loris Capirossi,
Andrea Dovizioso and Danilo
Petrucci. Bagnaia, starting from
the second row in sixth be-
hind delighted surprise rookie
pole position holder, Fabio Di
Giannantonio (Gresini Ducati),
got off to a sluggish start as Di
Giannantonio led the field into
turn one.
The Gresini rider wouldn't hold
the lead for long as Valentino
Rossi's little brother, Luca Marini
(Mooney VR46 Ducati) slipped
past into the lead at turn three,
and three quarters of the way
around the opening lap, Marco
Bezzecchi dived up the inside
of Di Giannantonio to make it a
dream Mooney VR46 one-two.
Bezzecchi then threw it up
the inside of his teammate at
turn one to lead, as Bagnaia was
mired down in eighth behind
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM)
and Fabio Quartararo (Monster
Energy Yamaha).
The Italian MotoGP
was once again
splashed in red,
white and green as
the homeboy on the
home bike did what
the home crowd
wanted
BAGNAIA
BEAUTIFUL
