Bagnaia wins the Italian Grand Prix

A native of Chivasso, a perfect race thanks also to a new found official Ducati: “I lost my voice, I shouted too much with joy, it’s really incredible, I’d like to thank everyone, because we all did a great job”

A comeback with applause to take back Mugello and get back into the fight for the 2022 MotoGP World Championship. Francesco Bagnaia, known as Pecco, originally from Chivasso, won the Italian Grand Prix in the premier class of two-wheelers, making the rushed fans go crazy with joy on the Tuscan circuit, now Valentino Rossi’s orphan. Perfect race thanks also to a new found official Ducati that left no way out for world champion Fabio Quartararo, second, and Aleix Espargaró, fabulous third with an increasingly beautiful Aprila.

The Frenchman thus remains at the head of the World Championship with an advantage of 8 points over the Spaniard from Noale. Great disappointment for Enea Bastianini who crashed 10 laps from the end, when he was sixth: now the Italian of Team Gresini is third in the world championship standings, 28 points from the Yamaha world champion. ‘Peccò climbs from seventh to fourth position in the drivers’ standings, with a gap of 41 points from Quartararo. At the foot of the podium there are three other Ducatis: that of Johann Zarco (Pramac), of Marco Bezzecchi, author of a solid race and in the early stages led in the lead and sixth his companion in the VR46 team Luca Marini, sixth at the end after a race dedicated to overtaking given and received. A success for Bagnaia, who arrived on the day of the legendary Max Biaggi parade at Mugello and after the retirement of Doctor Rossi’s legendary number 46, celebrated by the fans with the usual yellow cloud of smoke from the triumphs of the nine-time world champion. All this to demonstrate the desire of the Italmoto supporters not to want to forget their icon, but also the need to recognize themselves in a new pilot who is a symbol for the future.

And the comeback of the Ducati rider from Chivass gives us hope: «It was incredible – said Bagnaia from the podium party – I thank everyone for the work done. We were strong last week too, but then we had some bad luck. I am very happy to have won at home in front of our fans, it is a wonderful feeling ». Together with Pecco, Quartararo also smiles, who despite the missing horses on his Yamaha managed to sign an excellent second place, strengthening his position at the head of the World Championship: «The best race of my career. I had a great start, then I was overtaken, then I lost the rear, I had the Ducatis in front, but in the end I made it. I said to myself “I have nothing to lose”. We made some changes, the choices turned out to be right, I’m delighted to have performed at my best. In France it is Mother’s Day, I wish you my best wishes ».

And he continues to surprise Aprilia with his Espargarò still on the podium and fighting for the world championship dream: «Mugello is Mugello – the Spaniard rejoices – it’s the home race, I’m really happy. Too bad for yesterday’s qualifying. Today I managed to overtake the Ducatis, I didn’t win but the pace wasn’t much slower than Bagnaia and Quartararo. I have to be more aggressive in overtaking. I am very happy with the podium, aeven if I wanted more ».

Meanwhile, Pecco Bagnaia enjoys the victory: “I lost my voice, I shouted too much with joy, it’s really incredible, I would like to thank everyone, because we all did a great job”. «If Misano is my home GP – explained the driver who moved to Pesaro for a few years – this is the Italian GP. Today we won and we have to be happy – continued the motorcyclist who today helped bring Ducati’s number of victories to 63, the same number he wears on his front fairing – I know I made some mistakes this year, but Vale (Rossi , ed) taught me to celebrate for victories, so that’s what I’ll do without thinking too much about the past ». A thought also goes to the lack of invasion of the track by the fans and the number of spectators lower than usual: “I missed the invasion and I missed seeing everything very full, it was a bit of a shame, but in the end I I enjoyed the victory with all the people who had my flag and there were so many. I didn’t expect such a thing because it is the first time it has happened, but we hope to return in the future to see a Mugello full of people as we were used to ».

The last thought is for the satellite team of Ducati, Mooney VR46, who with Marco Bezzecchi and Luca Marini, who then arrived 5 / o and 6 / o, started from the front row: “I’m very happy because they did a great job all weekend and we also helped each other in various situations, I hope to have other fights with them in the future ».