This is the 31st Italian motorcycle Grand Prix at Mugello. This is going to be a monstrous race, because all the bikes are on hard and soft front and rear tires. Marc Marquez and one of the other riders, is on different tires. Maverick Vinales looks to be consistent for Suzuki. Everyone wants to win here, in Italy. Marc Marquez is second in the world championship. Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso is in attendance at the Mugello race. Bradley Smith has qualified eighth fastest. He won here in 2009 in 125cc competition. Danilo Petrucci starts in ninth place. Scott Redding, completes the top ten.
Jorge Lorenzo is fifth. He's never finished outside the top two in the last seven years, including three straight in 2011, 2012, and 2013, as well as last year, in 2015. Andrea Dovizioso rolls off 13th. This race, in Italy, a year ago, was the last time Andrea Dovizioso even qualified on the front row of the grid. Pol Espargaro is 14th, after having a very difficult weekend, with two crashes, including one in qualifying, before the race. Cal Crutchlow rolls off 16th. Andrea Ianonne, third. Maverick Vinales, second, and Valentino Rossi, who last won here in Italy, back in 2008. Tito Rabat broke his collarbone in a Saturday morning wreck. So, he won't start. But, nonetheless, battle will commence, at Mugello, over 23 laps... next!
The first MotoGP race here at Mugello, was 40 years ago, in 1976. Barry Sheene beat Phil Read, by a mere one thousandth of a second! Talk about close! Weather conditions, before we go green. Air temperature is 26 degrees Celsius (78 degrees Fahrenheit), track temperature 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit). So, the track, is plenty hot. However, the weather is perfect. This should be one heck of a race. The track, is a sea of yellow, as the fan launch yellow flares and yellow balloons into the sky. Can Ducati take their first win in MotoGP in six years, at home? We're about to find out.
Rossi has won seven consecutive races here, and those wins came between 2002 and 2008. The last seven years, from 2009-2015, Jorge Lorenzo has been either first or second. Riders cinch down their helmets. We are ready to race, at Mugello, in Italy! Italy holds it's breath. Here we go. The Italian motorcycle Grand Prix at Mugello, is go! The two Yamaha's of Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi, fly out in front towards the first corner at San Donato. Lorenzo passes Rossi, for the race lead! Oh man! Hot and heavy already! Uh oh! We've got riders down at the back of the field. Jack Miller, has ditched his motorcycle, and so have Loris Baz, and Alvaro Bautista on one of the factory Aprilia's.
Through Poggio Secco, Yamaha's run 1-2. Maverick Vinales, though, had a nightmare start. From the front row of the grid, he has absolutely plummeted to 11th. Through Casanova and Cevelli corners, plunging downhill. They come through Arrabiata 1 & 2. Remember, in Italian, these corners are named after, anger... not spicy pasta. This is a blind, fast right hand turn, that crests a rise. Bradley Smith also had a great start. If Valentino Rossi wants to beat his team mate, he's going to have to rough him up, fast, because if Lorenzo gets away, it's pretty much game over for everyone else and they'll have to battle among themselves, and let Lorenzo whistle off into the distance.
Andrea Ianonne has also sunk from the front row, down to eighth spot. Yonny Hernandez jumped the start. He will have to serve a penalty for that. Rossi, is charging to pass Lorenzo! Side by side at 215 miles an hour! Rossi leads, but he's run wide! Lorenzo comes right back on his Yamaha team mate! Both Ducati's got caught out, too, running way wide off line into San Donato. The two Yamaha's lead the way as Aleix Espargaro on the Suzuki fends off the challenge from Marc Marquez on the Honda. Dani Pedrosa, is now up to fifth place. Maverick Vinales continues now, to languish in 11th spot.
As predicted, Yonny Hernandez, did jump the start. Rossi glued to Lorenzo's rear wheel as the riders dive through Scarperia corner. From Scarperia to Palaggio. Through Correntaio, and onto a 7/10ths of a mile, 1,000 meter long straight. Rossi tries the inside line, but no. Rossi sets fastest lap so far at 1:48.445. Dani Pedrosa runs sixth, and Marc Marquez makes a pass on Aleix Espargaro. So, the factory Honda's are hanging in there, with everyone else. Marquez is now inside the top three places. Rossi is gaining on Lorenzo and is right in his face, with the whole of Italy, virtually, cheering on "The Doctor". Andrea Dovizioso has passed Dani Pedrosa, for fifth place.
Scott Redding passes Bradley Smith, as well. Through Biondetti 1 & 2, the battle is hot and heavy between Rossi and Lorenzo. Maverick Vinales goes inside Bradley Smith. Rossi and Lorenzo are side by side another time. Rossi tries to hold the advantage, but Lorenzo stays out in front. New fast lap, as Andrea Dovizioso sets a 1:47.997. Valentino Rossi is eyeing every opportunity. He's a man on a mission, to get past his team mate. Downhill braking through the right hand turn at Correntaio once more. Can Rossi get close enough exiting Biondetti to have a shot at passing Lorenzo? He has to have a shot through the last turn at Bucine.
Rossi tries a move on the outside! Will it work? Not quite. Lorenzo throws the block. Marc Marquez says, "you all at Yamaha, with your tussling, are going to give me a chance to close up! Thank you!" Andrea Dovizioso has passed Aleix Espargaro for fourth spot. Andrea Ianonne is now ninth. Dropping down, through Sevelli. This is the race the fans wanted to see. We still have about 17 laps left to go. Aleix Espargaro has also had a great ride so far, on the Suzuki. This is Dani Pedrosa's 250th Grand Prix race. Espargaro seems to be falling into Pedrosa's clutches ever so slightly. So far, Rossi hangs in there with Lorenzo and has not let his Yamaha team mate, sprint away.
Andrea Ianonne flies past Scott Redding and Maverick Vinales, for seventh, like he was shot from a cannon! Yonny Hernandez serves a penalty. Alvaro Bautista is OK after the wreck, and Loris Baz is being checked at the clinic. Rossi is showing his wheel through Scarperia and Arrabiata 1. Into Bucine, Rossi holds his ground. Where will he make a move? Rossi is right in the slipstream once again. Will he make a move? No. He is held off, again, by Lorenzo. Rossi seems to have the pace to run with Lorenzo. Rossi closes into Correntaio again. Lorenzo gets great drive through Biondetti and Bucine. Holy cow! Folks, these guys are racing on the straightaway, at 340 kilometers an hour, 210 miles an hour... on a motorcycle! Simply astonishing.
Oh dear! What has happened? Has Rossi made a mistake? He's off course! Oh no! Rossi, has a mechanical problem with the Yamaha! Rossi surely has a problem directly related to the bike itself. Did he make a mistake? He was looking down at his left foot. There's now smoke trailing from the bike. Rossi's Yamaha, has gone ka-blammo! A blown motor, and it's game over for the ten-time world champion. Jorge Lorenzo, ironically, blew a motor in the morning warmup for this race. So, two Yamaha engine failures, in a single day! Holy cow! That's not good. The plug has been pulled out of the bath here, and the water gurgles down the drain, as Rossi retires.
Rossi was in contention to win at Mugello for the first time since 2008. It won't happen today. Problems again, too, for Scott Redding. Redding has had his third major mechanical problem of the year. Jorge Lorenzo looks like he will dominate this race, as Marc Marquez now comes to second place. Rossi is only 12 points being Jorge Lorenzo. But, he'll lose championship points, after this race. Scott Redding had a water pressure problem. Thirteen laps left to run. We have 16 bikes still circulating on track. The order is Lorenzo, Marquez, Dovizioso, Iannone, Pedrosa, Vinales, Aleix Espargaro, Bradley Smith, Danilo Petrucci, Michele Pirro, Cal Crutchlow, Hector Barbera, Stefan Bradl, Eugene Laverty, Yonny Hernandez, and Pol Espargaro.
Rossi fans are streaming towards the circuit exits here at Mugello, now that their hero has retired. Andrea Ianonne is fourth. Lorenzo knows when to go for it, and protect things, running at the front, as Valentino Rossi comes back to the garage. Marc Marquez will battle Jorge Lorenzo, to the finish. Andrea Dovizioso has dropped 1.5 seconds behind Marquez. This is Rossi's second DNF of the year. If Marquez beats Lorenzo, they'd be equal on points, but, Lorenzo would lead, due to how many wins he has. Jorge Lorenzo is able to stand up to pressure from other riders. Maverick Vinales is sixth, but out of contention for a win, as he is quicker from Jorge Lorenzo and Marc Marquez.
Andrea Ianonne is faster than his team mate Andrea Dovizioso by a full second, as Ducati look like they'll get a podium either way, at their home race. Andrea Ianonne is catching up to Andrea Dovizioso. Yamaha begins inspecting the motorcycle after Valentino Rossi had to bring it in. Dovizioso and Ianonne battle, and Marc Marquez is pressing Jorge Lorenzo, too. Marquez, could win this race, if he has a chance. Bradley Smith goes past Aleix Espargaro, and is now seventh. Wow! Andrea Ianonne has just set, the fastest top trap speed in MotoGP history! 354.5 kilometers an hour... (221.5 miles an hour!) That's blazing speed if there ever was!
Iannone comes out of the slipstream from behind Dovizioso. Dovizioso defends, but Iannone finds a gap, and sails through on the outside! Dani Pedrosa is pushing, and is 1.1 seconds behind the Ducati's. Lorenzo ekes out a tenth of a second, on Marc Marquez, with six laps left. Marc Marquez has to push to stay with Lorenzo. Marc Marquez can't accelerate out of the corners on the Honda, compared to the Yamaha. So, Marquez has to make up time in the braking zones. Two-time MotoGP World Champion and Ducati ambassador, Casey Stoner, looks on, as the pressure is turned on in the battle between the two Andrea's. Dovizioso is a demon on the brakes, and he makes a pass on Ianonne and makes it work.
Dani Pedrosa is quicker than these two blokes on the Ducati's at the moment. Gigi Dall'Igna, Davide Tardozzi, and Paolo Ciabatti are down in the pit lane, probably going, "please don't repeat that horrid crash in Argentina!" Pedrosa is now right with the two Ducati's. It's a fair fight. Dani Pedrosa will partner Marc Marquez at Honda, for two more seasons. Iannone pushes inside Dovizioso. With just five laps remaining, Marc Marquez dials in the fastest lap of the race thus far, bringing it down to a 1:47.980. Dovizioso meanwhile, comes into San Donato way too hot, and runs wide. Dovizioso's podium hopes, in Italy, seem to have been dashed.
Dovizioso could be eaten up by Maverick Vinales on the Suzuki. Bradley Smith runs seventh as the top independent rider in the field right now. Smith, Aleix Espargaro, and Petrucci, scrap. Bradley Smith won at Mugello, in 2009, in 125cc competition. He was fifth here last year in MotoGP. Lorenzo and Marquez have exchanged consecutive fast laps. 1:47.961 for Lorenzo. Marquez responding with a 1:47.871. Marquez closes through Lucco and Poggio Secco corners. Plunging again through Casanova and Sevelli, the laps wind down. Marc Marquez tries the inside on Lorenzo, and runs wide!
Marquez got into Scarperia too hot. Three laps left now. Andrea Dovizioso has dropped back from the third place battle, as Dani Pedrosa presses Andrea Iannone. Iannone is hanging on by the skin of his teeth. Pedrosa is now third! He makes the pass stick, out Sevelli. MotoGP is fickle, because we've been singing the praises of Yamaha and Ducati here at Mugello, and we have a Honda, trying to go for the win. Marquez is pushing, through Bucine, as we complete lap 21. Two to go! Marquezs comes out of the slipstream, and now, it's a braking duel! Marquez leads through the corner. Can he make it stick? No! He runs wide, and Lorenzo is back in front!
Marquez has to try again, for the third time. Just a lap and a half to go, rising to Correntaio, as Andrea Iannone comes back to third, battling with Dani Pedrosa. One lap left at Mugello, and they're side by side! Lorenzo blocks through San Donato, and doesn't allow Marquez to go through. Over the top end of the circuit, however, Marquez makes his move! He makes it stick! What will Jorge Lorenzo do, to fight back? Fight fire with fire. Go on defense. Dropping through Casanova and Sevelli one final time, it's a different game. Lorenzo is now playing offense. Half a lap to go descending into Arrabiata 1 and ascending through Arrabiata 2. Marquez continues to hold the advantage into Scarperia.
Lorenzo won't give up without a fight. Lorenzo will line Marquez up, for a move, out of Biondetti. Lorenzo makes a move up the inside and makes the pass! Marquez fights back! This is too much! Lorenzo tries going through, but, no. Now, the run, to the finish line! Who's going to do it? Lorenzo ducks out to try and pass! Is it a photo finish! Not quite. Lorenzo, nips Marquez, at the line!
#99 Jorge Lorenzo ESP. Yamaha
How? How? How, did Lorenzo snatch the win away? What a last lap! Yikes! That race was insane! Marquez got a wheelie powering over the crest to the finish line, and that's how Lorenzo won this thing. Yours truly, is catching up, with MotoGP races. So, next up, will be the Catalunya Grand Prix in Barcelona, Spain, before coming to what will be this weekend's action, at "The Cathedral of Speed" at Assen, in Holland. Stay tuned, for further race coverage from Mugello, as well as Catalunya, and Assen, coming your way soon, on 2 Wheelin'. Arriva derci, for now.
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