Italian Grand Prix 2024, Race: Roberts wins the ‘Sprint’ | FP

A 12 lap ‘Sprint’

Atypical Sunday for Moto2 at Mugello, which, contrary to the original program, had to contest a race lasting just 12 laps. A change decided after Xabi Zurutuza’s bad crash in Moto3, with the consequent red flag and the start of the MotoGP cadet category delayed. In this way, with 9 fewer laps covered, the Italian Grand Prix ended with victory for Joe Robertsreturning to the podium step for the first time since the 2022 Portuguese Grand Prix. A cursed race, however, for Fermin Aldeguer: after having obtained the OK from the doctors to take part in the event, despite his absence from yesterday’s qualifying due to neck pain, the Spaniard is fallen for the second time in a row after Barcelona.

Race report

The fight for the victory initially focused on the three-way challenge between Roberts, Lopez and Binder, who were immediately protagonists at the start also thanks to an unhappy start from Garcia, who dropped to fifth position ahead of an excellent Ogura, who moved up to 6th from 12th place on the grid. Even in this context, most of the overtakings were completed when braking San Donato, where the riders completed the attacks on their opponents after taking advantage of the slipstream on the long finish straight. A battle in which he did not take part Aldeguer, who fell during the 4th lap, and Darrin Bynder, who crashed two laps later when he was fighting for the podium. In a race therefore shortened by the revision of the program, the show was staged during the last five laps, with Roberts emerging victorious after a long battle with Gonzalez on the last lap, resisting the Spaniard’s attacks at the first corner and crossing the finish line in front to all with a gap of only 67 thousandths. Finally, on the podium Alonso Lopezwith Sergio Garcia 6th and now ahead of Roberts in the overall solo standings 7 points. Finally, highest among the Italians was Celestino Vietti, 7th at the finish line. Disappointment for Mattia Pasini, who crashed on the last lap while he was in 12th place.

Moto2 – Italian GP 2024: order of arrival (top-15)