VOLUME ISSUE JUNE , P91
It really shouldn't have been
this straightforward. After not-
ing a nagging pain in his right
foot in the days after the French
Grand Prix collision with Mav-
erick Vinales (Aprilia Racing),
medical checks confirmed Bag-
naia had cracked the talus bone
in his right ankle. He arrived at
Mugello on a crutch and sported
a hobble. Yet it's hard to recall
a weekend as dominant for the
current number one. He shook
off a pesky Marc Marquez (Rep
-
sol Honda) in qualifying to bag
pole, before easing to a com-
fortable victory in Saturday's
Sprint and leading every lap of
Sunday's main race.
BY NEIL MORRISON
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE
R
arely do victory celebra-
tions seem more apt.
Less than a minute after
winning his home grand prix for
the second year in succession,
Francesco Bagnaia (Lenovo
Ducati) stopped his Desmosedi
-
ci, handed it to a marshal on
the outside of Casanova and
joined members of his fan club
who had set up an impromptu
table and barbeque in the gravel
trap. His victory margin of 1.067
seconds didn't tell the full story;
Bagnaia had just made this look
like a casual stroll in the park.
Francesco Bagnaia
was out in front all
weekend at Mugello.
Stroll
