VR46 Ducati rider Fabio Di Giannantonio dominated the first free practice (FP1) of the 2026 Italian Grand Prix at the Mugello circuit. Di Giannantonio clocked a fastest lap of 1 minute 46.242 seconds, establishing a significant lead of 0.369 seconds over Aprilia Racing's Jorge Martin, who secured second place.
Technically, tire compound selection was the decisive factor in determining pace during this opening session. Despite damp patches on the track resulting from overnight rain, all riders opted for slick tires. Di Giannantonio and Pedro Acosta utilized new medium rear tires to push their limits toward the end of the session. The medium compound proved to provide superior traction and stability during acceleration out of Mugello's characteristic high-speed corners.
The session also marked the return of Marc Marquez to active competition following shoulder and foot surgeries. The Ducati Lenovo Team rider finished the session in 15th position, trailing the leader by 1.177 seconds. Marquez adopted a conservative approach, waiting over 10 minutes before his first run to ensure physical stability before attempting a high-pace lap.
A setback occurred for Pecco Bagnaia, who was the only rider to crash during the session. Bagnaia suffered a low-speed fall at Turn 1 during the closing stages. While the crash did not result in serious injury, it disrupted his momentum in refining the bike's setup, leaving him in eighth place after failing to optimize the lapped time on a fresh set of tires.
Furthermore, the return of Cal Crutchlow, substituting for Johann Zarco at LCR Honda, highlighted the steep learning curve of returning to the grid. Crutchlow finished last among the 22 riders, 3.671 seconds off the pace. A three-year absence from official MotoGP action left Crutchlow struggling to synchronize braking feel and power delivery with the specific demands of the Mugello layout.
The results of FP1 emphasize Di Giannantonio's continuing momentum following his Catalonia victory. Conversely, Marquez's 15th place suggests that physical recovery remains the primary objective over immediate peak performance. For the Ducati factory team, the next technical priority is analyzing the degradation of the medium rear tire to optimize the strategy for the upcoming qualifying and Sprint Race.
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