MotoGP is heading straight to Italy after a chaotic weekend in Catalonia.
The heart of Italy: Mugello
Mugello Circuit is known for hosting some of the world's most passionate motorsport fans; thousands of Ducati supporters in red vests fill the stands. However, this year the factory Ducati team will have to compete without their biggest asset, Marc Marquez.
Without Marquez, what does Ducati do at home?
It's confirmed that reigning champion Marc Marquez will miss Mugello. He is still recovering from surgery on his right foot and shoulder following that disastrous fall at Le Mans. Therefore, the factory Ducati team will only field Pecco Bagnaia at Mugello; Bagnaia, who was disappointed in Catalunya, will be highly motivated to secure a victory in front of his home crowd.
Meanwhile, Gresini Ducati's Alex Marquez was also injured in a crash in Catalunya last week; his participation in Mugello remains uncertain. This shows that the Ducati family will have to compete with a weakened lineup in one of the most critical races of the season.
Aprilia is the favorite, but the pressure is increasing.
Following their historic three-point victory at Le Mans and relatively consistent performance in Catalunya, Aprilia arrives at Mugello as the favourites. The one-point gap between Bezzecchi and Martin makes for a neck-and-neck battle in every respect. Whether Mugello's high-speed environment is suitable for Aprilia's RS-GP will become clear during the race weekend.
Toprak's new installation trials
Razgatlıoğlu, who said he took a "big step" after the Catalunya test, is coming to Mugello having embraced Quartararo's setup philosophy even more. Yamaha also continued its factory test program in Catalunya; some new parts are expected to arrive for Mugello. The Turkish rider will take to the track at this historic circuit, where he will race for the first time, with high motivation; however, the goal is not yet the podium, but to collect data and continue to improve himself.