Renaissance armour, Hollywood stars and Pecco pain - the story of Grand Prix Italy
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Published 22/06/2025 at 19:59 GMT+1
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Grand Prix Italy brought thrills and spills on and off the track as the iconic Mugello circuit delivered one of the best race weekends of the season. Hollywood stars and sporting legends were in attendance to watch Pecco Bagnaia's bid to win a fourth consecutive Grand Prix on home turf and upset his team-mate, runaway MotoGP Championship leader Marc Marquez.
Highlights: Marquez claims Mugello triumph after electrifying start
Video credit: TNT Sports
Mugello brought the noise as the MotoGP roadshow arrived in Tuscany for Grand Prix Italy.
The fans roared their lungs out in hopes of seeing an Italian winner, with Francesco 'Pecco' Bagnaia arriving at his home track on the back of three consecutive GP victories there.
However, the Ducati star knew that to deliver a win, he would have to turn recent form on its head by ousting his red-hot team-mate, championship leader Marc Marquez.
Off the track, there was plenty going on too, from Ducati donning some Renaissance-themed livery to Hollywood stars and sporting legends turning up for race day.
This is the story of Grand Prix Italy.
Pressure on Pecco – ‘He has to win’
Home favourite Bagnaia came into the weekend on the hunt for a fourth consecutive Mugello victory that could revive his stuttering bid to reclaim the world champion's crown.
The Italian admitted ahead of the race weekend that "if I don’t win here, there is something very, very wrong," and TNT Sports expert Neil Hodgson concurred.
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'He has to win, that's not us trying to create drama' - Hodgson on 'untouchable' Bagnaia
Video credit: TNT Sports
"He has to win here, and that’s not us trying to create drama, he’s 93 points behind his team-mate," Hodgson said.
"We thought that as the season started, when we get to Qatar, that’s going to really suit Pecco, and it didn’t work out.
"He’s won here the last three times, he’s won both the Sprints here, he’s untouchable. He’s good across all classes, it was like his riding style was designed for Mugello."
Marquez claims 100th pole
Unfortunately for Bagnaia, things took a familiar turn as soon as racing began.
Championship leader Marc Marquez stormed to the 100th pole of his career with a Mugello lap record in Q2 on Saturday.
It was yet another statement performance from the Spaniard, although Bagnaia did show promising signs by taking second, just 0.059 seconds slower. Marquez’s brother Alex took third to complete the front row.
"It was a good lap. Super happy on a circuit where, historically, Pecco and Alex are faster than me – we were able to be on pole," Marquez said.
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'He goes even quicker still!' - Marquez claims 100th MotoGP pole at Grand Prix Italy
Video credit: TNT Sports
Marquez recovers to win Sprint
Things got even better for Marquez when he showed admirable composure to recover from a big error on the start line to claim the Sprint victory.
After struggling with the launch settings on his bike, a mistake that cost Marquez a good start, he battled back and worked his way through the field to take the lead by Lap 4.
From there he pushed on to victory, with brother Alex in second and Bagnaia only taking third despite exciting the crowd by taking an early lead.
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Highlights: Marquez mounts marvellous comeback to claim another Sprint win in Mugello
Video credit: TNT Sports
Hodgson was blown away by how easy Marquez made the win look despite his difficult start.
"It doesn't look scrappy. It doesn't look like he's risking anything. He doesn't look like he's going to crash. He looks like he's learned from those earlier mistakes in the season," he said.
"He's taking less risk. That looks like he won at a canter. It felt like that at Aragon, that was his track. Coming here, I did not expect that at all."
Stars of screen and sport flock to Mugello
There was no lack of stardust in the paddock ahead of Grand Prix Italy, as Hollywood actor Keanu Reeves, artist Alexandra Grant, cyclist Mark Cavendish and former racing driver Mark Webber spoke to TNT Sports ahead of the race.
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'A hobby? It's a passion!' - Reeves and Grant tell TNT Sports about 'pure magic' of MotoGP
Video credit: TNT Sports
Reeves spoke of his "passion" for the sport and explained what makes MotoGP racing so special, while Cavendish and Webber were in awe of the iconic Mugello track.
Cavendish said the "spectacular" circuit "gets me all giddy," while Webber described it as "motorcycle Mecca."
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Cavendish smitten with ‘spectacular’ Mugello circuit - ‘It gets me all giddy’
Video credit: TNT Sports
Incredible duel as GP starts
The home crowd was on its feet and screaming from the moment the race started at Mugello as a stunning battle for the lead unfolded.
Bagnaia roared in front on the opening lap and a back-and-forth battle with Marquez would go on for several laps, with Alex Marquez also involved to make it a three-way fight.
All three riders pulled off some spectacular moves in an electrifying start to the race.
Unusually, the Ducati pair were dressed in brand-new Renaissance-themed livery rather than the usual red after releasing special edition "armour" for their "two modern knights."
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‘What a move!’ – Bagnaia edges ahead of Marquez brothers in three-way fight for first
Video credit: TNT Sports
Marquez triumphs, Pecco falters
Despite the enthralling start, the race ended in predictable fashion as Marc Marquez held off his rivals to claim yet another victory and extend his championship lead.
Alex came through for second place, but there was a disappointing ending for Bagnaia, who had started the race looking so strong but ended it off the podium.
On the penultimate lap, his fellow Italian Fabio Di Giannantonio "picked his pocket" with a superb pass to move into third and claim a podium place.
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Di Giannantonio 'picks Pecco's pocket' to pinch podium spot off Mugello home hero Bagnaia
Video credit: TNT Sports
Bagnaia 'gains honour'
Bagnaia was downbeat after the race, insisting that he had been "unable to do anything" to compete with the Marquez brothers in a season where his struggles are "always the same."
However, the TNT Sports team of Michael Laverty and Sylvain Guintoli looked at it differently.
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Bagnaia 'unable to do anything' to compete with Marquez brothers - 'Always the same'
Video credit: TNT Sports
The two former riders were both optimistic about the fight that Pecco showed on his home circuit.
Laverty said Bagnaia "gained honour in front of his home crowd" by taking the race to Marquez, while Guintoli praised him for "leaving it all out there".
Bagnaia will hope that he can turn things around next time out, with the MotoGP roadshow heading to Assen for the Grand Prix Netherlands.
Racing takes place from June 27-29, with all the action live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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Bagnaia 'gained honour' by taking fight to Marquez at Mugello - 'He left it all out there'
Video credit: TNT Sports
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