VR46 Ducati rider Fabio Di Giannantonio secured the top spot in the first free practice (FP1) of the 2026 Italian Grand Prix at the Mugello circuit. Di Giannantonio clocked a time of 1 minute 46.242 seconds, 0.369 seconds ahead of Aprilia Racing's Jorge Martin, maintaining his momentum following the Catalonia victory.
Technically, the use of new medium rear tires in the final stages of the session was the key to the pace. Despite visible damp patches on the track from overnight rain, all riders utilized slick tires. Di Giannantonio's ability to maximize the grip of the medium compound allowed him to set the fastest lap, highlighting an effective setup for the variable surface temperatures at Mugello.
The session also marked the return of Marc Marquez after surgery to remove damaged screws and a bone fragment from his arm, as well as stabilizing a foot fracture. The Ducati Lenovo Team rider finished 15th. Marquez adopted a conservative approach, entering the track later in the session to ensure physical stability post-surgery.
A setback occurred for Pecco Bagnaia, who was the only rider to crash during FP1. Bagnaia went off into the Turn 1 gravel in the final minutes, which disrupted his efforts to refine the bike's balance. Consequently, he finished the session in eighth place after failing to optimize a fresh set of tires.
At the back of the field, Cal Crutchlow, replacing Johann Zarco at LCR Honda, finished last with a gap of 3.7 seconds to the leader. A three-year hiatus from official MotoGP action left Crutchlow struggling to synchronize braking feel and power delivery with the specific demands of the circuit.
The absence of Alex Marquez and Johann Zarco due to injuries left Michele Pirro to fill in at Gresini. With the all-time top speed record at Mugello standing at 366.1 km/h, aerodynamic stability and tire degradation management will be the critical factors for the upcoming qualifying and main race.
| POS | FOTO | RIDER / TEAM | TIME / GAP | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |  | Fabio Di GiannantonioPertamina Enduro VR46 | 1:46.242s Italia | 0 |
2 |  | Jorge MartinAprilia Racing | 1:46.611s Spanyol | 0 |
3 |  | Ai OguraTrackhouse MotoGP | 1:46.680s Jepang | 0 |
4 |  | Maverick VinalesRed Bull KTM Tech3 | 1:46.694s Spanyol | 0 |
5 |  | Jack MillerPrima Pramac Yamaha | 1:46.744s Australia | 0 |
6 |  | Pedro AcostaRed Bull KTM Factory | 1:46.794s Spanyol | 0 |
7 |  | Fermin AldeguerBK8 Gresini Racing | 1:46.916s Spanyol | 0 |
8 |  | Francesco BagnaiaDucati Lenovo | 1:46.971s Italia | 0 |
9 |  | Raul FernandezTrackhouse MotoGP | 1:47.072s Spanyol | 0 |
10 |  | Franco MorbidelliPertamina Enduro VR46 | 1:47.238s Italia | 0 |
11 |  | Luca MariniHonda HRC Castrol | 1:47.246s Italia | 0 |
12 |  | Brad BinderRed Bull KTM Factory | 1:47.277s Afrika Selatan | 0 |
13 |  | Joan MirHonda HRC Castrol | 1:47.392s Spanyol | 0 |
14 |  | Marco BezzecchiAprilia Racing | 1:47.415s Italia | 0 |
15 |  | Marc MarquezDucati Lenovo | 1:47.419s Spanyol | 0 |
16 |  | Michele PirroBK8 Gresini Racing | 1:47.422s Italia | 0 |
17 |  | Enea BastianiniRed Bull KTM Tech3 | 1:47.448s Italia | 0 |
18 |  | Diogo MoreiraPro Honda LCR | 1:47.520s Brasil | 0 |
19 |  | Fabio QuartararoMonster Energy Yamaha | 1:47.550s Prancis | 0 |
20 |  | Alex RinsMonster Energy Yamaha | 1:47.743s Spanyol | 0 |
21 |  | Toprak RazgatliogluPrima Pramac Yamaha | 1:48.065s Turkey | 0 |
22 |  | Cal CrutchlowCastrol Honda LCR | 1:49.913s UK | 0 |
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