KTM's Brad Binder ready disrupt Ducati's Mugello stranglehold: 'I think we've got the legs on them'

Francesco Bagnaia approaches his home Italian MotoGP this weekend nursing a broken ankle and defending a slender lead in the world championship as Ducati eye another big pay day at their local track in the Tuscan hills.

MotoGP Championship standings

Bagnaia, the defending champion, has blown hot and cold on his factory Ducati this term, with wins in two sprints and two races but a crash from pole at Le Mans last time out.

That fifth-lap tumble with Aprilia's Maverick Vinales left him with a broken ankle, but despite hobbling into Thursday's press conference on crutches he said he should be fine to race.

"I'm not 100 percent, I'm struggling more walking than riding, it shouldn't affect my race weekend.

"As an Italian this is a very special weekend."

He welcomes back his teammate Enea Bastianini, who with luck will line up on the grid on Sunday for his first race of the season after damaging his shoulder in the season-opening weekend in Portugal.

Marco Bezzecchi, riding the Ducati of retired MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi's VR46 team, took the honours in France to move to within one point of his compatriot Bagnaia in the riders' standings.

Ducati riders occupy the first six places in the championship - the one exception being KTM's in-form Brad Binder.

A rousing win from 15th on the grid in the sprint in Argentina was followed by another sprint success in Spain and a battling second in the race itself at Jerez.

'Full of confidence'

That's lifted the South African into third in the championship, only 13 points behind Bagnaia.

Understandably the 27-year-old arrives in Mugello in the mood to disrupt Ducati's Tuscan lovefest.

"I'm going into Mugello full of confidence, feeling really good, I really think we've got the legs on those