MotoGP Mugello: ‘Perfect weekend’ for Pecco ‘ but was not easy’

Ducati Lenovo’s Pecco Bagnaia secured his dream of winning the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon with the full set of home pride.

Italian rider, bike, team and fans all celebrated at the iconic Tuscan track as Bagnaia took his place on the top step of the Mugello podium after an impressively battle around the 5.2km layout. But despite starting from the second row, the 25-year-old didn’t make it easy for himself in the opening stages. An uncharacteristically poor start from the Desmosedici rider saw him eighth on the opening lap with four other Ducatis, an Aprilia, a KTM and the reigning MotoGP Champion between him and victory.

“It was incredible!” Bagnaia exclaimed after the champagne. “I just tried to manage a great start, but I didn’t, because I arrived in the first corner that I was behind.

“I started quite well but the problem was that I was with one Ducati here and two here, so I was in the middle and I had to close the gas. I seen a lot of riders overtook me. I had [Marc] Marquez touch me also in the corner four so it was not easy. But I was just trying to be smart with the tyres and when you try to be smart is difficult, because the guys in front of you are always pushing a lot. So I just use the advantage that we have with the Ducati, that in the slipstream is great and to be smart with the tyre.

“Was very important to overtook the riders in front as soon as possible because I choose the medium front, and staying behind some riders can be a problem. So I just try to overtook riders, when I arrive to [Marco] Bezzecchi I tried to overtake him in the straight because I was knowing that my first braking was hard and just tried to set my pace and was enough to open a gap to control the other riders.

“Today the