2018 Italian motorcycle GP: Lorenzo wins his first race with Ducati at Mugello

As was the case last year, the 2018 Italian GP of motorcycle racing was won by a rider from Ducati, although it was not Andrea Dovizioso but Jorge Lorenzo. It was a surprising victory for the Spanish rider at the Mugello track, since he had not won a race since joining the Italian team. He needed 17 races last year and five this year to reach the top step of the podium dressed in Ducati red for the first time.

Lorenzo’s victory, although surprising, was indisputable. On a circuit that suits him very well, the Spanish rider dominated the race from start to finish, precisely on a weekend in which he arrived denying rumours of his possible retirement, while fuelling speculation about a possible departure from Ducati in search of a more competitive bike. His teammate Dovizioso finished second, and Valentino Rossi, who started from pole position, finished third.

The championship leader, Márquez, crashed and although he returned to the track he could not make up enough positions to score points. Despite scoring zero and remaining on 95 points, the Repsol rider Honda remains the MotoGP championship leader, followed by the two Yamahas, Rossi on 72 points and Viñales (eighth today) on 67 points.

In Moto3 the Spanish anthem also rang out, thanks to Jorge Martín. The Madrid rider secured his third victory of the season in flawless fashion, despite suffering a few mechanical problems and the pressure from the Italians Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannantonio, who kept pace with Martín until the end but could not pass him on the final straight. As a result, Martín cuts five points from leader Bezzecchi and sits just three points behind, which is no bad thing after failing to score in the last two races.

Against expectations, there was no Italian victory in Moto2, as had been the case until now. At the 2018 Italian GP the win in this category went to Portuguese rider Miguel Oliveira, who thus opens his account for this year in a race that was completely decided on the last lap, when Oliveira took the lead from Baldassarri, and when Joan Mir took third place from Bagnaia. The latter remains as leader of the championship, with 111 points, followed by Oliveira on 98 points.

The next round of the motorcycle world championship will be the Catalan GP. The championship’s second round in our country will be held on 15, 16 and 17 June.