It's been a hectic weekend at Mugello, the home circuit for both Valentino Rossi and team Ducati, as Jorge Lorenzo spoiled the fun, winning his third race in a row. The Spaniard now sits second in the world ranking, only 6 points adrift the leader, Rossi.
While Lorenzo's race went according to the plans we all know only too well, shooting ahead of the pack in the first lap and then engaging the "catch me if you can" mode, the battle for places 2-4 was a good old premier class show.
Behind Lorenzo, Andrea Iannone, Marc Marquez, Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa battled fiercely on every turn. In the end, Marquez made a mistake that would cost him the race, as he crashed out only a few laps before the end.
He switched places with Marquez several times, and would most likely carry the battle to the wire, had Marquez not crashed out of the race 6 laps before the finish. Mugello leaves Iannone with his first-ever MotoGP pole and the best placement in his premier class career to date.
Rossi caught Pedrosa wrong-footed and squeezed past him, thus depriving Honda of a place on the podium and most likely adding to the frustration accumulated during the whole weekend in the HRC boxes.
Cal Crutchlow also crashed three laps before the end of the race, raising the Mugello toll to an impressive eight. Dovizioso had to retire due to a mechanical failure. The ranks of those who did not qualify also included Stefan Bradl, Nicky Hayden, Aleix Espargaro, Jack Miller and Alex de Angelis. The clash between Petrucci and Aleix Espargaro is currently under investigation.
With Pedrosa fourth, the checkered flag at Mugello then saw Bradley Smith, Pol Espargaro, Maverick Vinales, spectacularly in the 7th position,followed by Ducati's test rider Michele Pirro and other two Ducati ridden by Petrucci and Hernandez for the top ten.
Loris Baz was 12th, the best-positioned Open-class rider, just behind Scott Redding and his satellite Honda. Action heads to Lorenzo's home playground at Barcelona on 12-14 June.
Until then, the top of the world standing sees Rossi with 118 points, Lorenzo with 112, Andrea Dovizioso with 83 and his teammate Andrea Iannone very close behind him with 81 points, while Marc Marquez sits in fifth, with 69.
The first questions as to whether he can make serious claims to the 2015 title already popped up, but still, we're only one-third into the championship, and there much racing ahead.
Behind Lorenzo, Andrea Iannone, Marc Marquez, Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa battled fiercely on every turn. In the end, Marquez made a mistake that would cost him the race, as he crashed out only a few laps before the end.
No podium for Repsol Honda
Starting from a disappointing 13th position, Marquez showed how precise and fast he was compared to most of the riders ahead of him and quickly caught up with the leading pack. Iannone, riding with a hairline fracture in his shoulder, however, proved that he was not the easy prey some thought of him.He switched places with Marquez several times, and would most likely carry the battle to the wire, had Marquez not crashed out of the race 6 laps before the finish. Mugello leaves Iannone with his first-ever MotoGP pole and the best placement in his premier class career to date.
Rossi caught Pedrosa wrong-footed and squeezed past him, thus depriving Honda of a place on the podium and most likely adding to the frustration accumulated during the whole weekend in the HRC boxes.
Cal Crutchlow also crashed three laps before the end of the race, raising the Mugello toll to an impressive eight. Dovizioso had to retire due to a mechanical failure. The ranks of those who did not qualify also included Stefan Bradl, Nicky Hayden, Aleix Espargaro, Jack Miller and Alex de Angelis. The clash between Petrucci and Aleix Espargaro is currently under investigation.
With Pedrosa fourth, the checkered flag at Mugello then saw Bradley Smith, Pol Espargaro, Maverick Vinales, spectacularly in the 7th position,followed by Ducati's test rider Michele Pirro and other two Ducati ridden by Petrucci and Hernandez for the top ten.
Loris Baz was 12th, the best-positioned Open-class rider, just behind Scott Redding and his satellite Honda. Action heads to Lorenzo's home playground at Barcelona on 12-14 June.
Until then, the top of the world standing sees Rossi with 118 points, Lorenzo with 112, Andrea Dovizioso with 83 and his teammate Andrea Iannone very close behind him with 81 points, while Marc Marquez sits in fifth, with 69.
The first questions as to whether he can make serious claims to the 2015 title already popped up, but still, we're only one-third into the championship, and there much racing ahead.