MOTOR RACING: Bezzecchi spoils Ducati's centenary party with Italian Grand Prix victory

Marco Bezzecchi surged past Francesco Bagnaia in the closing stages to secure a dominant home victory at Mugello and lead an Aprilia one-two finish with Jorge Martin. Bagnaia salvaged third place late on to prevent Aprilia from sweeping the podium.

Reuters

May 31, 2026

MotoGP - Italian Grand Prix - Mugello Circuit, Scarperia e San Piero, Italy - May 31, 2026 Aprilia Racing's Marco Bezzecchi celebrates after winning the MotoGP race

Ciro De Luca/Reuters

Marco Bezzecchi beat teammate Jorge Martin to win the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday as Aprilia ruined Ducati's centenary celebrations on home turf in Mugello after Francesco Bagnaia briefly led the race.

Bagnaia, a three-time winner in Mugello from 2022 to 2024, led the race until there were 10 laps left when Bezzecchi made his move before Martin also moved past the Italian to drop him down to third.

There was no stopping Bezzecchi after he moved into the lead as the Italian took the chequered flag over three seconds ahead of Martin for his first win at the famous circuit.

Meanwhile, Bagnaia's late heroics denied Aprilia a podium lockout when Trackhouse rider Ai Ogura briefly took third on the final lap before the Italian took the place back just before the finish line.

-Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne/Reuters

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