In brief
Raúl Fernández secured his first-ever MotoGP sprint race victory, leading from the third corner to the finish line at Mugello.
Fernández and Jorge Martín were the only riders to select the medium rear tyre, a decision that proved crucial for their 1-2 finish.
Marc Márquez finished fifth in his comeback race, just 20 days after a double operation on his right foot and shoulder.
Jorge Martín cut Marco Bezzecchi's championship lead to 12 points, while Bezzecchi could only manage fourth from pole position.
Aprilia locked out the front row and ended Ducati's five-year winning run at the Italian Grand Prix on the factory's centenary weekend.
A Surprise Victory for Fernández
Raúl Fernández delivered a stunning performance to win the MotoGP sprint race at the Italian Grand Prix in Mugello. The 25-year-old Spaniard, riding for the satellite Aprilia-Trackhouse team, started from second on the grid and took the lead early, never relinquishing it. His victory marks his first-ever win in a Saturday sprint race, adding to his maiden Sunday Grand Prix win in Australia last season.
“I'm super happy, I really have no words... I've felt super good since yesterday, so I want to thank the team. I tried the medium tyre and it worked, so it's great. We'll try to win again tomorrow.”
Fernández's tactical choice of a medium rear tyre, a decision shared only by Jorge Martín, proved decisive as the softer compound used by most rivals degraded. The win comes at a crucial moment for Fernández, who is still negotiating his contract for the revolutionary 2027 season.
Martín Closes the Gap
Jorge Martín secured second place, finishing just under a second behind his fellow Madrid native. The result allowed the Aprilia factory rider to cut the championship deficit to leader Marco Bezzecchi to 12 points. Martín, who had set a new MotoGP top speed record of 368.6 km/h during practice, opted for a cautious approach after a recent collision with Fernández in Catalunya.
“We've done an incredible job. Friday was difficult, but we always try to fight for the podium and everything turned out fantastic. It was hard for me to follow Raúl, and in the end I thought it was better to secure the points than risk a crash.”
Fabio Di Giannantonio completed the podium for Ducati-VR46, salvaging some pride for the Bologna factory on its home centenary weekend. The Italian expressed delight with his aggressive opening lap and third-place finish.
Márquez's Courageous Comeback
Marc Márquez made a heroic return to competition just 20 days after undergoing surgery on his right foot and shoulder. The reigning world champion, who started fourth, briefly led the race with a spectacular move into turn one before fading to a still-impressive fifth place. The eight-time premier class champion admitted he could not risk a crash that would undo his rehabilitation progress.
“This weekend I can't fall, I can't lose everything I've gained in my recovery.”
Championship Standings Shift
Marco Bezzecchi, who started from pole position, suffered a poor launch and could only recover to fourth place. Despite the disappointing result at home, the Aprilia rider maintains his championship lead with 148 points. Fernández's victory elevates him to fifth in the standings with 80 points, while Márquez sits ninth with 62 points after missing two races.
- Marco Bezzecchi
- 148 points
- Jorge Martín
- 136 points
- Fabio Di Giannantonio
- 123 points
- Pedro Acosta
- 93 points
- Raúl Fernández
- 80 points
Data from the article text
Aprilia's Dominant Saturday
Aprilia celebrated a historic day at Mugello, locking out the entire front row for the first time ever and securing its first pole position at the circuit since 1999. The Noale factory's performance emphatically ended Ducati's five-year unbeaten streak at the Italian venue, with three Aprilia bikes finishing in the top four. The result underscores Aprilia's status as the manufacturer to beat in the early stages of the 2026 season.