The Mugello MotoGP delivered on its promise of excitement. It had it all: different race leaders, riders and bikes that were strong in different parts of the track, and last-lap drama down the order. However, the race winner ended being an Italian rider on an Italian machine, so the Mugello couldn't have asked for a much better race.
Dovizioso's experience with the Ducati came in handy, with him playing to the bike's strengths. The Yamahas were much quicker in the corners, which made for exciting racing. The Doctor looked like he could challenge for the win, even leading the pack for a while, but his physical condition didn't allow him anything better than a fourth place. The GP17's fearsome acceleration and top speed saw Danilo Petrucci take third ahead of Rossi. In second place was Rossi's teammate, Vinales, who now leads the championship by a comfortable margin of 29 points. Continuing the good Ducati run was Bautista in fifth, with Marquez first of the Hondas in sixth. Zarco ended up seventh, with Lorenzo eighth. Test rider Michele Pirro followed Lorenzo over the line, and the top ten was rounded out by Iannone on the Suzuki, after Pedrose took out Crutchlow while braking into a corner on the final lap.
The new/old tyre carcass made its debut at the Mugello GP, and the tyre mix-and-match continued. The medium front was an asymmetrical one, and the right side of that tyre was harder than the hard option. With the increased temperatures, the feeling at the front essentially disappeared, and favoured those who didn't depend too much on front end feel or hard braking - which essentially meant the Ducatis. Barcelona is up next weekend, and the surface there is bumpy as well as slippery, so it should make for an interesting weekend. Still, 'Desmo Dovi' had his first dry win in MotoGP at Ducati's (and his) home race, and that's something you don't see very often.
