Italian MotoGP: Yamaha leads the way with Vinales fastest in FP1

Maverick Vinales gave Yamaha hope of a return to form in Mugello after topping the Italian MotoGP FP1 Session.
Maverick Vinales, MotoGP, Italian MotoGP 28 May 2021
Maverick Vinales, MotoGP, Italian MotoGP 28 May 2021
© Gold and Goose

🎶Maverick Vinales finished FP1 at the top of💜 the timesheets thanks to a fast final lap of Mugello as the paddock returned for the Italian Grand Prix for the first time since 2019.

The Monster Energy Yamaha rider༒ tussled for the top spot all session, with his penultimate lap seeing him finish fi🐟rst - the Spaniard's best of 1m 46.593s already only just over a second off the lap record.

Becoming a father between rounds has certainly not dented Vinales speed, 𒐪with his early performance in Mugello giving Yamaha hope of a return to form at the track -they last won the Italian Grand Prix back in 2016.

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Johann Zarco moveꦬd into second in the final fifteen minutes and held the positon for Pramac at Ducati’s 🃏home circuit, just 0.209s slower.

The Suzuki bikes initially struggled, starting the session wi💟th early laps placing them 14th and 15th, but the duo worked hard to improve - Alex Rins finished third at the chequered flag, just ahead of his team-mate, current world champion Joan Mir, in fourth.

❀Franco Morbidelli also made late improvemen﷽ts to finish his first session at his home track in fifth for Petronas Yamaha, just ahead of fellow countryman Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) in sixth.

Ducati Test rider Michele Pirro has been drafted in to replace Jorge Martin who aims to be back for the next round in Barcelona. Pirro’s time around the track saw him lead much of the early part of the session th🎃anks to his extensive track knowledge on his way to seventh.

Championship le꧃ader Fabio Quartararo set the eighth best lap, w🦄ith all of the top eight within a second of VInales best run.

Le Mans race winner Jack Miller took a while to♋ get to grips with the circuit but moved from 13th to ninth on his final attempt for Ducati. 

Miguel Oliveira completed the top ten as the top KTM rider for Red Bull with Taka Nakagami only just 🌱missing out inཧ eleventh for LCR Honda.

Elsewhere, Pol Espargaro was the top Repsol Hon💞da man in 12th. His br🐼other Aleix Espargaro was again the best of the Aprilia riders for Gresini in 13th.

Marc Marquez continues his return from injury after making his comeback in Portugal. He placed his factory Honda 16th. Mugello fan favourite Valentino Rossi was just behind in 17th for Petro🅰nas Yamaha.

Winner of the last Italian Grand Prix, Danilo Petrucci, was down in 18th plaᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚce on the second KTM.

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