Maverick Vinales set the pace for Yamaha in the opening practice session for MotoGP’s Italian Grand Prix at Mugello.
Vinales had been fastest for much of the middle of the session before being deposed by Alex Rins’s Suzuki in the closing stages.
Had Rins, who had an early trip through the gravel without serious consequences, stayed there, it would have been the first time in 2021 that reigning MotoGP champion team Suzuki had topped a practice session.
A fast place to run wide! 😲@Rins42 has an early excursion at Arrabbiata! ✊#ItalianGP 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/TZcABgvmkm
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 28, 2021
But Vinales put in a late 1m46.593s to beat Rins by 0.359s, and then Rins was demoted to third as Pramac Ducati’s Johann Zarco got between them. Joan Mir emphasised Suzuki’s strong start in fourth.
Zarco had looked on course to beat Vinales for half the lap before losing time in the final sectors and ending up 0.209s adrift.
His temporary team-mate Michele Pirro had set the pace in the opening part of the session and was still seventh at the finish.
Ducati test rider Pirro is making his first MotoGP appearance since last year’s Austria double-header to cover for the injured Jorge Martin at Pramac.
Tito Rabat has been in that role for the past two events but this weekend has a World Superbike clash.
Martin, who was injured in a violent Portimao crash in mid-April, has resumed training on motorbikes recently and is expected to return to racing at Barcelona next weekend.
Franco Morbidelli’s SRT Petronas Yamaha and championship leader Francesco Bagnaia’s works Ducati were fifth and sixth between the Suzukis and Pirro.
Jack Miller, winner of the last two races, was ninth, while Marc Marquez was only 16th – one place ahead of Valentino Rossi.
Practice 1 Results
| Pos | Name | Team | Bike | Gap Next | Gap Leader | Best Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maverick Viñales | Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP | Yamaha | 1m46.593s | ||
| 2 | Johann Zarco | Pramac Racing | Ducati | +0.209s | +0.209s | 1m46.802s |
| 3 | Alex Rins | Team SUZUKI ECSTAR | Suzuki | +0.15s | +0.359s | 1m46.952s |
| 4 | Joan Mir | Team SUZUKI ECSTAR | Suzuki | +0.224s | +0.583s | 1m47.176s |
| 5 | Franco Morbidelli | Petronas Yamaha SRT | Yamaha | +0.008s | +0.591s | 1m47.184s |
| 6 | Francesco Bagnaia | Ducati Lenovo Team | Ducati | +0.002s | +0.593s | 1m47.186s |
| 7 | Michele Pirro | Pramac Racing | Ducati | +0.369s | +0.962s | 1m47.555s |
| 8 | Fabio Quartararo | Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP | Yamaha | +0.011s | +0.973s | 1m47.566s |
| 9 | Jack Miller | Ducati Lenovo Team | Ducati | +0.15s | +1.123s | 1m47.716s |
| 10 | Miguel Oliveira | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | KTM | +0.032s | +1.155s | 1m47.748s |
| 11 | Takaaki Nakagami | LCR Honda IDEMITSU | Honda | +0.043s | +1.198s | 1m47.791s |
| 12 | Pol Espargaró | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | +0.079s | +1.277s | 1m47.87s |
| 13 | Aleix Espargaró | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | Aprilia | +0.122s | +1.399s | 1m47.992s |
| 14 | Brad Binder | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | KTM | +0.057s | +1.456s | 1m48.049s |
| 15 | Luca Marini | SKY VR46 Avintia Team | Ducati | +0.079s | +1.535s | 1m48.128s |
| 16 | Marc Marquez | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | +0.149s | +1.684s | 1m48.277s |
| 17 | Valentino Rossi | Petronas Yamaha SRT | Yamaha | +0.025s | +1.709s | 1m48.302s |
| 18 | Danilo Petrucci | Tech3 KTM Factory Racing | KTM | +0.017s | +1.726s | 1m48.319s |
| 19 | Alex Marquez | LCR Honda Castrol | Honda | +0.056s | +1.782s | 1m48.375s |
| 20 | Lorenzo Savadori | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | Aprilia | +0.359s | +2.141s | 1m48.734s |
| 21 | Enea Bastianini | Avintia Esponsorama Racing | Ducati | +0.233s | +2.374s | 1m48.967s |
| 22 | Iker Lecuona | Tech3 KTM Factory Racing | KTM | +0.03s | +2.404s | 1m48.997s |
