Celebrations ensued at Mugello as Gresini Racing’s rookie Fabio Di Giannantonio secured a stunning showcase from Q1 to pole position.
The Italian’s 1’46.156 lap secured his maiden pole in MotoGP, topping a trio of home talent in difficult conditions as Mooney VR46 locked out the front row. Valentino Rossi’s own rookie, Marco Bezzecchi, sat second from brother Luca Marini, on the day his legendary number was retired from premier class action. Ducati power commanding the entirety of the top five at its home track.
Qualifying geared up with the rain finally arriving and Prima Pramac’s Jorge Martin facing a three place grid penalty due to irresponsible riding in FP3. WithU Yamaha’s Darryn Binder also set with a long lap penalty for Sunday’s 23-lap race after crashing under waved yellows in the morning action.
Ducati’s Jack Miller headed out for the Q1 battle alongside Maverick Viñales, Marc Marquez and both Suzuki riders. The rain eased with the pack setting out on medium wets as the 15-minute session fired up.
The opening efforts found KTM’s Miguel Oliveira topping Miller for Q2 contention with di Giannantonio sitting third. Monster Energy Yamaha’s Franky Morbidelli demoted the Gresini rider with his second attempt with Joan Mir and Marquez following suit. Brad Binder was the first rider out on slicks as the KTM set red sectors the halfway stage. Lightning simultaneously threatening in the background as the South African recorded a 1’52.402, three seconds clear of his teammate to lock out the top two for the Austrian manufacturer.
Miller and Alex Rins pit for slicks with six minutes on the clock. Marquez following the Australian out of pitlane as rain flags waved at the back of the circuit and conditions changed again.
Michele Pirro was the next to shine on the Aruba.it liveried Ducati as the test rider claimed second, four-tenths down on the KTM target. Miller towing the eight-time champion through multiple red sectors with Marquez bettering the top two with a blistering 1’48.843, six-tenths faster than his target on track. Di Giannantonio once again finding third.
The rain flags continued but so did the hot laps as the top four tried again. Gresini riding high with a 1’47.649 at its home track from Marquez with Miller and Pirro cut adrift. Binder’s final effort was only enough for fourth as his teammate claimed second. Miller briefly rising into contention before Marquez dropped him again as di Giannantonio improved further to take P1 with a 1’47.219. A full 10 seconds covering the 16 riders across the sensational session.
Q2 fired up, literally, with a turn two monster highside from Marquez on his out lap before his Repsol Honda burst into flames and the red flags were deployed. Thunder and lightning adding to the drama overhead as the pack returned to pitlane.
Action resumed, the grid set out for an exploratory lap with conditions unknown. Marquez heading straight back to the box for extra changes as Pecco Bagnaia and Enea Bastianini circulated in tandem. Di Giannantonio set the initial pace with a 1’49.124 before the second shots were fired. The Gresini racer retuning to dominance two seconds faster next time around with Mooney VR46 locking out the rest of the front row as two rookies and three Italians shone on home soil.
The halfway stage found Bagnaia up to second as Diggia improved once more. 1’46.907 the target to beat with Marco Bezzecchi maintaining his run in the top three before he too bettered his factory cohort as the rookies reigned.
Prima Pramac’s Johann Zarco spoiled the party with a 1’46.875 as the clock counted down. Bagnaia improving to third with two minutes left to run as the pace picked up across the board. Bezzecchi was the first to strike, with a 1’46.6, before Bagnaia bettered and teammate Luca Marini joined the front row party. Diggia proving he was far from done with a sensational 1’46.410 and the potential for one more lap in the tank.
A final flurry saw Zarco and Bezzecchi hit the top with Marini through to second before the dream came true. Di Giannantonio took the pole position with a 1’46.156 from a pair of VR46 riders with the rookies on top at their home race.
Zarco claimed fourth from Bagnaia and Fabio Quartararo with Aleix Espargaro heading row three ahead of LCR’s Takaaki Nakagami and his younger sibling. Bastianini, Martin and Marquez completed the top 12.
