Dovizioso gives Ducati home win at Mugello

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Ducati Andrea Dovizioso took a magnificent win battling rivals on track and illness off it to cross the line over a second clear of Maverick Vinales and an impressive home podium for second Italian Danilo Petrucci.

Home hero Valentino Rossi shot off the line for the lead from P2 on the grid, denying teammate and polesitter Vinales as Jorge Lorenzo stormed up from seventh to fight off Dovizioso for third.

Over the line saw Lorenzo use the incredible speed of the Ducati to take the lead for the first time in red, dueling with old nemesis Rossi before the Italian took him back – and then the next lap proving almost a replay as two of the men to have dominated the sport this decade found themselves sharing the front of the race for the first time this season.

Then it was ‘DesmoDovi’ on the move after Vinales had gone through on Rossi, taking the ‘Doctor’ as the trio began to break away from Lorenzo - with Petrucci on the chase.

Andrea Iannone had an incredible start from P16 after having suffered with illness throughout the weekend, moving up into seventh, as Aleix Espargaro suffered a different fate and got a ride through for a jump start.

Petrucci caught the group before too long as Dovizioso took over at the front, and the Pramac rider then pounced on Viñales after a small mistake to follow ‘DesmoDovi’. Then it was holding station as the gaps grew and then shrunk, before the factory Ducati in the lead gained a small gap  - and every member of the Borgo Panigale team held their breath as Vinales took over in second, only a few laps remaining and the Championship leader with his head down.

Closing in and then falling back, the pendulum swung between the two men until the last lap dawned – and ‘DesmoDovi’ kept it inch-perfect around every corner to take his third ever Grand Prix victory, and the first for a red machine at Mugello since Casey Stoner won in 2009.

Viñales took second to increase his Championship lead once again, with Petrucci putting in the dry-weather ride of his life to complete the podium after staying clear of Rossi over the last couple of laps. The ‘Doctor’, who suffered a motocross crash in training the week before the event, pushed hard through the pain barrier at home and just missed the podium but took good points – as always, putting on a great show.

Alvaro Bautista took a big scalp as he caught and passed reigning Champion Marc Marquez to complete the top five, with Johann Zarco coming home in P7 behind Marquez

Lorenzo, after his early duel for the lead, suffered grip issues later in the race and crossed the line in eighth, beating Ducati test rider Michele Pirro over the line. Iannone’s heroics following his illness saw him complete the top ten at home.

The late drama a little further off the front saw a tough day for Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) conclude in a crash as the ‘Baby Samurai’ slid out, unfortunately collecting LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow on the final lap.

Tito Rabat took P11, with the top fifteen completed by Scott Redding, Jonas Folger, Hector Barbera and Jack Miller.

Now the paddock packs up and heads for Barcelona, as the Catalan GP turns the home tables for many on the grid – sure to result in another spectacular, spectacular.

Race Result - 23 Laps

Pos. Rider Team Time/Gap
1 Andrea DOVIZIOSO Ducati Team 41'32.126
2 Maverick VIÑALES Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 1.281
3 Danilo PETRUCCI OCTO Pramac Racing 2.334
4 Valentino ROSSI Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 3.685
5 Alvaro BAUTISTA Pull&Bear Aspar Team 5.802
6 Marc MARQUEZ Repsol Honda Team 5.885
7 Johann ZARCO Monster Yamaha Tech 3 13.205
8 Jorge LORENZO Ducati Team 14.393
9 Michele PIRRO Ducati Team 14.88
10 Andrea IANNONE Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 15.502
11 Tito RABAT EG 0,0 Marc VDS 22.004
12 Scott REDDING OCTO Pramac Racing 24.952
13 Jonas FOLGER Monster Yamaha Tech 3 28.16
14 Hector BARBERA Reale Avintia Racing 30.676
15 Jack MILLER EG 0,0 Marc VDS 30.779
16 Karel ABRAHAM Pull&Bear Aspar Team 42.306
17 Sylvain GUINTOLI Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 46.294
18 Loris BAZ Reale Avintia Racing 50.731
19 Sam LOWES Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 50.74
20 Bradley SMITH Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 50.897
Not Classified
  Cal CRUTCHLOW LCR Honda 1 Lap
  Dani PEDROSA Repsol Honda Team 1 Lap
  Aleix ESPARGARO Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 8 Laps
  Pol ESPARGARO Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 10 Laps
 

         

 

 

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