Raúl Fernández claimed his first MotoGP Sprint Race victory as Aprilia enjoyed a record-breaking Saturday at Mugello.
Record-breaking morning for Aprilia
After a difficult weekend in Catalunya, Aprilia arrived in Mugello with a point to prove. By Saturday afternoon, the Italian manufacturer had rewritten the record books.
Jorge Martín set a new MotoGP top speed record during FP2, reaching 368.6 km/h (229 mph), before Marco Bezzecchi followed it up in qualifying with a new all-time Mugello lap record of 1:43.921.
The achievements did not stop there. For the first time in MotoGP history, Aprilia locked out the entire front row, setting the stage for an exciting Sprint Race.
The scene is set for Sprint.
The scene was set for an exciting 11-lap sprint race. Most of the grid opted for the soft rear tyre, although Fernández and Martín gambled on the medium rear compound. With track temperatures reaching 44°C, the decision raised questions about whether the pair could benefit later in the race, much like Martín had done earlier in the season at COTA.
Ducati Strikes First
Despite Aprilia’s front-row lockout, Ducati immediately showed its intent when the lights went out. Marc Márquez launched into the lead, but his advantage was short-lived as Fernández quickly fought back to take control of the race.
Martín soon followed through into second, while Márquez slipped down the order as Diogo Moreira and Fabio Di Giannantonio moved ahead. Considering the reigning World Champion is still recovering from surgery less than a month ago, his early charge was an impressive effort.
Sprints, however, remain Bez’s nemesis as he lost several positions and was down to P6 by the end of lap 1. The championship leader managed to regain several positions, but still not the result he would have liked. Especially after setting a track record just a few hours earlier.
One of the standout performances came from rookie Diogo Moreira. Starting from eighth on the grid, the Brazilian surged into third during the opening lap and briefly looked capable of challenging for a podium. He briefly held off Di Giannantonio for P3, before Diggia passed him at Arrabbiata 1. While he wasn’t able to keep the position for the 11 laps, he showed that he can make moves with his Pro Honda LCR.
Battles for the sprint points
The leaders were controlling the pace at the front. There were several battles for the remaining points places.
From the start, it was Fermín Aldeguer, Enea Bastianini, and Pedro Acosta who settled into the three-way battle for P6. The trio was changing positions across several laps. Diogo Moreira briefly joined the squabble as well before losing a couple more positions and just missing out of points.
There was a brief battle between Bezzecchi and Márquez for P4, in which Bez came out victorious.
The late stages saw another exciting battle for P6 between Aldeguer, Acosta, and Bagnaia. With a few laps to go, Ai Ogura joined the battle, and the chequered flag settled the order.
Turn 10 Catches Out the Home Heroes
Almost halfway through the sprint race, a yellow flag was brought out. After holding off Acosta and defending his P8, Enea Bastianini barrel-rolled out onto a gravel trap at Turn 10.
On the same lap, another home hero, Franco Morbidelli, crashed out and ended up in the gravel at the same spot.
The Italians weren’t the only ones with misfortune during the sprint race in Italy. A few laps after two of the Italians crashed out, Joan Mir made his way into the pits and retired from the race. It was a continuation of his bad luck from Catalunya, where the #36 rider made it onto the podium but lost it later after a tyre pressure penalty demoted him to P16.
Raul Fernández on a mission defends against Martín
Following their controversial clash in Catalunya, all eyes were on Fernández and Martín once they found themselves running first and second. The rules were set on how the factory and satellite Aprilia’s go racing, as their battle during the sprint in Mugello saw a different dynamic.
Once Raúl Fernández claimed the lead, he never wavered, showing speed, control, and skill across the 11 laps. While Martín managed to keep up with the Trackhouse rider, the closest he got was 0.4 seconds at the closing stages.
After 11 laps, Raúl Fernández secured his first Sprint victory. With his future beyond 2026 still uncertain, it was exactly the kind of statement performance that strengthens his case for a place at Trackhouse in 2027.
Point scorers in Mugello
With what was technically an Aprilia 1-2 claimed by Fernández and Martín, Di Giannantonio took P3. Bezzecchi settled for P4 while Márquez, on P5, showed that even injured, he should be seen as a threat.
Aldeguer held off Bagnaia to secure sixth, leaving the Ducati rider to settle for seventh. It was Ogura and Acosta who claimed the final points from Mugello’s Sprint. This left Moreira just outside the points.
Next Up
Saturday belonged to Aprilia, but the main event still awaits. After a record-breaking day in Mugello, the Italian manufacturer will be hoping Sunday’s GP can deliver an even bigger reward.
With pace throughout the field and several unanswered questions still remaining, the stage is set for a fascinating race day.
Feature image courtesy of MotoGP.com