MotoGP

Who stood out in opening Mugello MotoGP practice

by Valentin Khorounzhiy
2 min read

Aprilia MotoGP rider Maverick Vinales led the way in the opening practice session of the Italian Grand Prix weekend at Mugello.


Key moments:

  • Vinales leads Quartararo on new rubber
  • Marquez and Bagnaia the standouts on old rubber
  • Crashes for Acosta and Rins

Vinales struggled massively in last weekend's meeting at the low-grip Barcelona, toiling with a lack of front-tyre feeling and badly outmatched by team-mate Aleix Espargaro, but has showed an early return to form at the high-grip Mugello circuit.

His 1m46.140s left him two tenths clear of Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo, the M1s looking competitive in the 45-minute session, having tested at Mugello earlier this month.

Franco Morbidelli, Quartararo's former Yamaha team-mate, was third as the lead Ducati rider, while Pedro Acosta (Tech3 Gas Gas) made it four different bikes in the top four despite a late crash at Scarperia.

Morbidelli's points-leading Pramac team-mate Jorge Martin was fifth, followed by his works Ducati seat rival Marc Marquez.

Marc Marquez, Gresini Ducati, MotoGP

But Marquez, riding a year-old Ducati for Gresini, was one of the riders to forego a tyre swap during the session, so - having led the proceedings after initial run - settled for a sixth-place finish, just over four tenths off the pace.

Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati) was in a similar position, the reigning champion sticking with the same tyre set and ending up eighth, a spot behind Aprilia's Aleix Espargaro - who made two trips into the Turn 1 (San Donato) gravel.

Alex Rins made it two Yamahas in the top nine despite a fall.

Rins, whose 2023 was compromised by a bad leg break suffered in a Mugello crash, fell off at San Donato while leading the session, but soon returned to the track.

Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati) and Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Aprilia) were two other riders who ended up with a decent result despite sticking with the same tyre set as they rounded out the top 11.

KTM wildcard Pol Espargaro began his first MotoGP weekend since the 2023 finale by placing 15th.

Luca Marini was the top Honda in 19th, the Japanese manufacturer having also tested at Mugello.

FP1 times

PosNameCarBest TimeGap Leader
1Maverick ViñalesAprilia1m46.140s
2Fabio QuartararoYamaha1m46.328s+0.188s
3Franco MorbidelliDucati1m46.428s+0.288s
4Pedro AcostaKTM1m46.459s+0.319s
5Jorge MartinDucati1m46.587s+0.447s
6Marc MarquezDucati1m46.587s+0.447s
7Aleix EspargaróAprilia1m46.590s+0.450s
8Francesco BagnaiaDucati1m46.657s+0.517s
9Alex RinsYamaha1m46.719s+0.579s
10Alex MarquezDucati1m46.816s+0.676s
11Raul FernandezAprilia1m46.911s+0.771s
12Jack MillerKTM1m47.016s+0.876s
13Marco BezzecchiDucati1m47.108s+0.968s
14Brad BinderKTM1m47.116s+0.976s
15Pol EspargaróKTM1m47.133s+0.993s
16Fabio Di GiannantonioDucati1m47.197s+1.057s
17Miguel OliveiraAprilia1m47.291s+1.151s
18Enea BastianiniDucati1m47.296s+1.156s
19Luca MariniHonda1m47.582s+1.442s
20Augusto FernandezKTM1m47.586s+1.446s
21Takaaki NakagamiHonda1m47.742s+1.602s
22Joan MirHonda1m47.812s+1.672s
23Johann ZarcoHonda1m47.904s+1.764s
24Lorenzo SavadoriAprilia1m48.112s+1.972s
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