Home Heroes Lock Out Top Four While Márquez Secures Q2 Return and Acosta Faces Q1 Challenge

The opening day of the 2026 MotoGP Italian Grand Prix at Mugello delivered a fiercely competitive Friday Practice session, with home riders stealing the spotlight and producing a historic result for Italian motorsport fans.

Fabio Di Giannantonio led the charge for the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team, topping the timesheets with a blistering 1:44.808 to claim Friday honours on home soil. The result was not only significant for the rider himself but also marked a landmark moment for Italian racing, as the top four positions were all occupied by Italian riders for the first time in a MotoGP Practice session.

Behind Di Giannantonio, Francesco Bagnaia, Enea Bastianini, and Franco Morbidelli completed a clean sweep that underlined both the strength of Italian talent and the competitiveness of Ducati machinery at Mugello.

Elsewhere, Marc Márquez marked his return to action with a solid performance to secure direct passage into Q2, while Pedro Acosta endured a difficult day and will now face the pressure of Q1.

Italian Riders Set Historic Benchmark at Mugello

VR46 and Ducati Lead Unprecedented Home Dominance

Friday Practice at Mugello quickly turned into a showcase for Italian riders, with Di Giannantonio setting the tone early and never relinquishing control at the top of the leaderboard.

His lap of 1:44.808 proved just enough to edge out Bagnaia by 0.091 seconds, with Bastianini a fraction further back. Morbidelli’s late push completed a rare and emotional Italian lockout of the top four positions.

The significance of the result was not lost on those inside the paddock, with Mugello’s passionate home crowd providing a fitting backdrop. Ducati-powered machines once again demonstrated exceptional pace around the flowing Tuscan circuit, particularly in long, fast corners where stability and drive traction are critical.

Di Giannantonio’s performance stood out not just for speed but for consistency across multiple runs, with his VR46 machine showing strong corner exit performance and improved braking stability compared to earlier rounds.

Di Giannantonio Delivers Under Pressure

Late Lap Push Secures Friday P1

The VR46 rider’s final push came during the crucial time-attack phase, where track conditions and soft Michelin tyres allowed for maximum performance over a short window.

Di Giannantonio’s ability to find time when it mattered most ultimately proved decisive, as several rivals briefly threatened to dislodge him during the final minutes of Practice.

Speaking after the session, the Italian highlighted both the intensity of the conditions and the importance of preparation at Mugello. Riders repeatedly referenced how Mugello’s long corners and elevation changes make tyre management and rhythm especially important over a full race distance.

For Di Giannantonio, the result represents one of his strongest Friday performances of the season and places him firmly among the leading contenders heading into qualifying.

Márquez Returns and Secures Direct Q2 Spot

Strong Recovery Signals Competitive Weekend Ahead

Marc Márquez made a highly anticipated return to competitive action with Ducati Lenovo Team, and his performance immediately confirmed he remains a factor in the fight at the front.

After passing his fitness evaluation, the eight-time world champion focused on building rhythm across the session, gradually improving his pace before securing P6 overall and automatic qualification into Q2.

Márquez’s return was particularly notable given the physical demands of Mugello, a circuit known for its long lap duration and heavy load through fast direction changes.

While not yet at full sharpness, his ability to place inside the top six on Friday suggests that he could become increasingly dangerous as the weekend progresses, especially if race pace improves in FP2 and qualifying simulations.

Acosta Misses Q2 After Late Setback

KTM Rider Faces Pressure in Q1 Battle

In contrast, Pedro Acosta endured a frustrating opening day at Mugello, finishing outside the top ten and missing direct entry into Q2.

The KTM rider, currently sitting fourth in the championship standings, was unable to fully capitalise on his pace during the final minutes of Practice after a late mistake disrupted his final flying lap attempt.

Acosta will now head into Q1, where he faces added pressure to secure a place on the first two rows of the grid. Given his raw speed and racecraft, he remains a strong candidate to progress, but the setback represents an unexpected challenge in what is becoming a tightly contested weekend.

KTM’s overall performance also showed flashes of competitiveness, particularly in race-run consistency, but struggles in one-lap execution left both factory riders outside the automatic Q2 cut.

Early Drama Shapes Practice Flow

Red Flags and Crashes Disrupt Rhythm

Friday Practice at Mugello was interrupted by multiple incidents that affected momentum across the field.

Fabio Quartararo triggered the first red flag after crashing at Turn 4, scattering debris onto the racing line and briefly halting the session. Fortunately, the Yamaha rider was able to walk away unharmed.

Later in the session, Jack Miller also suffered a fall at Turn 1, while Brad Binder’s technical issue added further disruption when his KTM had to be removed from a dangerous position on track, prompting another stoppage.

These interruptions made timing crucial during the final time-attack phase, where track position and clean laps became decisive in determining Q2 qualifiers.

Bezzecchi and Márquez Among Key Q2 Movers

Tight Margins Decide Direct Qualification

Behind the Italian front-runners, Marco Bezzecchi led Aprilia’s challenge in seventh place, continuing his strong championship campaign.

Jorge Martín recovered late to secure eighth, ensuring both title contenders remain firmly in the mix heading into Saturday’s qualifying.

Alex Rins delivered one of Yamaha’s stronger performances of the season with a top-ten finish, while rookie Diogo Moreira impressed by securing a direct Q2 spot in tenth position.

The margins were exceptionally tight throughout the field, with less than half a second separating multiple riders inside the top ten.

VR46 Momentum Builds at Home Round

Italian Team Celebrates Strongest Friday Yet

For the VR46 Racing Team, Friday’s result represented one of their most successful combined performances in recent memory, with Di Giannantonio leading the field and Morbidelli joining him inside the top four.

The team’s strong showing reflects continued development of their Ducati package and growing confidence at circuits where grip and corner speed play a key role.

With Mugello widely considered one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar, VR46’s performance carries added significance heading into both qualifying and race day.

Moto2 and Moto3 Deliver Late Drama at Mugello

Vietti and Ogden Top Respective Classes After Close Battles

The Moto2 session saw Celestino Vietti deliver a late charge to secure Friday honours, edging out Izan Guevara and Manuel González in a tightly contested top three.

Several championship contenders struggled to secure automatic Q2 entry, setting up a competitive Saturday qualifying session.

In Moto3, Scott Ogden produced a dramatic late lap to secure P1, narrowly ahead of Marco Morelli and Adrián Fernández after a session defined by constant position changes and late improvements.

Both classes continued the trend seen in MotoGP, with Mugello once again proving to be a circuit where final minutes often decide grid positions.

Friday Sets Stage for Intense Mugello Weekend

With Di Giannantonio leading a historic Italian top four, Márquez back in Q2 contention, and Acosta facing added pressure in Q1, Mugello has already delivered a compelling opening chapter to the 2026 Italian Grand Prix.

The combination of home expectation, unpredictable conditions, and extremely close lap times suggests that Saturday’s qualifying and Sprint action could prove decisive in shaping the rest of the weekend.

As the paddock moves deeper into race weekend, one thing is already clear: Mugello remains one of MotoGP’s most emotionally charged and technically demanding venues, where momentum can shift in a single lap.