Marco Bezzecchi wins his home Grand Prix in-front of a record crowd

The weather was a hot and sunny in Mugello for the Italian Grand Prix, Marco Bezzecchi was on pole for his home Grand Prix after being the first rider to do a 1:43. Tissot Sprint winner Raul Fernandez was second and Jorge Martin made it an all Aprilia front row. Marc Marquez on his return started from fourth alongside his fellow Spaniard Fermin Aldeguer with Francesco Bagnaia starting in sixth looking to have a better start than he did in the sprint, Fabio Di Giannantonio who was the top Ducati in the sprint started from seventh.

The lights went out and Bezzecchi took the holeshot into turn one, Fernandez went wide and Martin slipped underneath Bezzecchi to lead, Pecco Bagnaia was third ahead of Marquez and Aldeguer. Bezzecchi retook the lead at turn four.

Martin slipstreamed Bezzecchi down the home straight and made the move on the brakes but the Spaniard out-braked himself and that allowed Bagnaia to inherit second place.

Pecco slipstreamed Bezzecchi to take the lead, it looked like he out-braked himself into turn one but he amazingly made the apex and pulled a small gap over the championship leader. Pedro Acosta had got through on Aldeguer and then nearly took Marquez but the nine time world champion fended off the 22-year-old.

On lap six Acosta finally got through on Marquez making the move at the final corner but Marquez used the Ducati power to pass Acosta down the home straight and retake fourth.

Acosta pulled a block pass on Marquez at turn ten and made it stick and Aldeguer tried to go around the outside but Marquez closed him off, but Aldeguer turned underneath Marquez at the final corner.

Marquez slipstreamed both Murcians and was able to go back into fourth by turn one, Aldeguer was able to stay in fifth overtaking Acosta at turn one.

Aldeguer went wide at turn 12 and Acosta was back in-front of him. The battling had allowed Ai Ogura to close up to the back of them with Di Giannantonio closing in as well after a poor start.

Alex Rins who had been the top Yamaha all weekend went down at turn one losing the front in 15th.

Fernandez after his mistake at the opening corner had worked his way up to ninth place and was the fastest rider on track and set his sights on the battle for fourth place.

Cal Crutchlow retired at the end of lap 11, Enea Bastianini crashed out at turn ten out of tenth place.

Martin was beginning to close in on Bagnaia and Bezzecchi just like he did in Le Mans and was ranging at 0.7 seconds to his teammate.

On lap 14 Bezzecchi made his move on Bagnaia at turn one and Bezzecchi tried to bolt, Martin was closing in on Pecco.

Marquez and Acosta were still glued together, Acosta past the Ducati into the final corner but went a bit wide and Marquez retook fourth, Ogura had gone through on Aldeguer with Di Giannantonio right behind both of them.

In one lap Bezzecchi had pulled one second over Bagnaia and Martin was 0.3 behind the Ducati. Martin made the move at turn one and made it stick, the gap to Bezzecchi was 1.4 seconds.

Acosta finally made the move stick on Marquez at turn one as Ogura closed in, Di Giannantonio overtook Aldeguer at turn nine.

Ogura made a block pass on Marquez at turn ten that forced them both wide and Di Giannantonio was able to pass Marquez for sixth.

Marquez made a move on Di Giannantonio at turn one but the VR46 Ducati responded immediately at turn two and ran the Spaniard to the edge of the track.

Ogura slipstreamed Acosta and made the overtake at turn one but went a little wide and Acosta tried to get back up the inside but the pair made contact with Ogura staying in fourth.

Di Giannantonio went through on Acosta at turn eight and Marquez was still there but he ran wide at turn ten. Ogura was closing in on Bagnaia, the gap was 2.2 seconds with four laps to go.

Ogura was closing in rapidly on Bagnaia and made the move at the final corner, but Pecco turned underneath the Japanese rider.

Bezzecchi crossed the line to win the Italian Grand Prix, his and Aprilia’s first Grand Prix victory at Mugello. Martin was second with Bagnaia holding onto the final podium spot. Ogura was fourth with Di Giannantonio in fifth, Acosta in sixth and Marquez in seventh. Fernandez was ahead of Aldeguer and Diogo Moreira.

Bezzecchi leads the standings on 173 points with Martin 17 points behind and Di Giannantonio a further 22 points.

Featured Image: Marco Bezzecchi.