Mugello Archives

Yamaha To Celebrate The R1 25th Anniversary At Mugello

Yamaha is set to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its iconic sports bike, the Yamaha R1, with a special event at Mugello.

The Yamaha Racing Experience, taking place on 21-22 July, will pay tribute to the R1’s rich legacy.
Mugello Circuit in Italy, renowned for hosting the MotoGP Italian Grand Prix, will serve as the backdrop for this momentous occasion.

Yamaha has enjoyed significant success at Mugello in the past, with riders like Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, and Fabio Quartararo achieving triumphs on Yamaha bikes.

The circuit also holds sentimental value for Niccolo Canepa, who often participates in Mugello track days to prepare for his Endurance World Championship races.

Paolo Pavesio, Marketing and Motorsport Director of Yamaha Motor Europe, expressed pride in honoring the R1’s 25th anniversary. He described the R1 as a game-changer that has consistently pushed the boundaries of performance and innovation, incorporating cutting-edge technology and MotoGP-derived advancements.

Notably, the R1 pioneered the use of a vertically-stacked gearbox in production motorcycles, leading to improved engine design and enhanced performance.

In subsequent years, Yamaha further differentiated the R1 by introducing a cross-plane crankshaft, contributing to its distinct sound and engineering excellence. The 2015 model update embraced the aesthetic cues of the Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP bike, coinciding with Jorge Lorenzo’s championship-winning season. The R1M variant also brought MotoGP-inspired electronics to track enthusiasts.

While the R1 has not undergone significant updates in recent years, motorcycle enthusiasts eagerly await news of its next evolution. The

Alex Rins Slams Takaaki Nakagami: ‘He’s The Dirtiest Rider On The Grid’

The recently concluded Italian GP had witnessed Ducati’s Francesco ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia claiming his first win at the Mugello.

While the result was a much-needed boost for the Italian, Suzuki’s Alex Rins, on the other hand, suffered his third attempt in a row of failing to secure a point.

It was a disastrous day for the Spaniard as he was forced to retire after a collision with Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami.

The incident also ignited Suzuki to submit a formal request to the Race Direction to investigate the incident and punish Nakagami. However, Race Direction decided it was just a ‘normal’ racing incident.

In a fiery outburst, Rins slams the Japanese rider during an interview with DAZN.

“Nakagami can’t do what he did. He’s a super aggressive rider. I think he’s the dirtiest rider on the grid.

“On the lap before the accident, I put the bike in front of him between turns 10 and 11.

“Usually, whoever puts the bike in front has the position, like [Johann] Zarco did with [Marco] Bezzecchi, who passed him and took the position.

“‘Taka’ kept accelerating, and as we went forward, he touched me and threw me [to the ground]. I think it was a very dangerous move, and luckily no one was going behind otherwise, I don’t even know what would have happened,” he said.

MotoGP will be back in action this weekend at Catalunya.

MotoGP: Peerless Pecco Bagnaia dominates Italian GP in Mugello

Pecco Bagnaia takes sensational Italian GP win in Mugello for Ducati ahead of defending MotoGP champion Fabio Quartararo.

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MotoGP: Bagnaia Raih Kemenangan Pertama Di Mugello, Marquez Ucap Selamat Tinggal

Francesco Bagnaia menampilkan aksi mantap di laman sendiri untuk merekodkan kemenangan pertama dalam kariernya di Litar Mugello.

Pelumba Ducati itu yang bermula dipetak kelima ternyata menggunakan pengalaman yang ada untuk mudah memintas barisan pertama yang dibarisi pelumba muda.

Bagnaia terus mendominasi sebahagian besar perlumbaan sebelum melintas garisan penamat sebagai pemenang diikuti tempat kedua, Fabio Quartararo.

Quartararo yang bermula di petak keenam juga tidak berdepan kesukaran untuk menduduki tempat kedua dengan memintas Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini), dan gandingan VR46, Luca Marini serta Marco Bezzechi.

Kedudukan kedua itu terus mengukuhkan tempat Quartararo selaku pendahulu kejuaraan dengan 122 mata selepas lapan pusingan.

Sementara itu, Aleix Espargaro terus cemerlang apabila menamatkan aksi di kedudukan ketiga kali keempat beturut-turut.

Walaupun satu ketika kemaraan disekat Marini dan Bezecchi namun berbekalkan pengalaman, Espargaro berjaya mencari ruang untuk memintas ketika perlumbaan memasuki peringkat penghujung.

Kejayaan Espargaro memastikan dia kekal antara pencabar kejuaraan dengan 114 mata, hanya lapan mata dibelakang Quartararo.

Dalam perkembangan sama, enam kali juara dunia MotoGP, Marc Marquez, berjaya menamatkan aksi di tempat ke-10 yang merupakan penampilan terakhirnya musim ini.

Marquez terpaksa undur diri dari musim 2022 setelah bakal menjalani pembedahan tangan kanan pada Selasa ini sekaligus akan berehat panjang untuk tujuan pemulihan.

MotoGP: Pelumba Kritik Keputusan Teruskan Perlumbaan Susulan Kematian Dupasquier

Aksi MotoGP di Litar Mugello telah dibayangi dengan berita kematian pelumba Moto3, Jason Dupasquier.

Pelumba berusia 19 tahun itu disahkan meninggal dunia semalam susulan mengalami kecederaan serius ekoran kemalangan ketika sesi kelayakan pada Sabtu.

Bagaimanapun, saingan Moto2 dan MotoGP tetap dijalankan yang menyaksikan Fabio Quartararo merekodkan kemenangan ketiga musim ini.

Namun, terdapat beberapa pelumba antaranya Francesco Bagnaia yang menyuarakan kritikan kerana membenarkan perlumbaan diteruskan.

“Kita tidak sepatutnya berlumba hari ini.

“Selepas berita kematian Dupasquier diumumkan, saya memberitahu pasukan saya keengganan untuk berlumba hari ini (semalam).

“Walaupun saya cuba mengekalkan fokus namun aamat sukar. Bagi saya, kita tidak sepatutnya berlumba hari ini.

“Jika perkara sama menimpa seorang pelumba MotoGP, sudah tentu perlumbaan ini akan dibatalkan.

“Saya tidak berpuas hati kerana seseorang memutuskan kami perlu meneruskan perlumbaan hari ini selepas berita menyedihkan diumumkan,” jelas Bagnaia.

Nada sama turut disuarakan Danilo Petrucci dan Aleix Espargaro.

“Sukar untuk keluar berlumba hari ini. Saya rasa jijik memikirkan kami perlu keluar berlumba ketika seorang pelumba berusia 19 tahun telah meninggal dunia.

“Bagi saya perkara ini tidak normal,” kata Petrucci.

“Dia hanya berusia 19 tahun. Dia masih seorang kanak-kanak.

“Hari ini (semalam), dalam tempoh 10 minit, dari memberikan penghormatan kami terus menarik visor turun untuk meneruskan perlumbaan.

“Sukan permotoran ini kadang kala kejam, saya berasa cukup sedih,” ujar Petrucci.

Sementara itu, pelumba veteran dan tujuh kali juara dunia MotoGP, Valentino Rossi, turut berkongsi pendapatnya mengenai tragedi menimpa Dupasquier.

“Pertama sekali, saya mengucapkan takziah kepada keluarga, pasukan dan rakan kepada Dupasquier.

“Selepas berita pemergiannya, kita mula tertanya-tanya sama ada wajarkah meneruskan perlumbaan.

“Bagi saya meneruskan perlumbaan ini tidak masuk akal tetapi sama juga jika sebaliknya berlaku kerana tiada apa yang kita lakukan hari ini dapat mengubah apa yang telah berlaku.

“Kejadian seumpamanya membuatkan kita mula mempersoalkan sebab mengapa kita berlumba,” jelas Rossi.

Namun, bagi Rossi tiada unsur diskriminasi yang berlaku dalam keputusan meneruskan perlumbaan di Mugello.

“Pada 2011 sewaktu di Litar Antarabangsa Sepang (SIC), kami tidak berlumba kerana (Marco) Simoncelli ditimpa kemalangan sewaktu perlumbaan.

“Tetapi ketika tragedi menimpa Luis Salom (sesi ujian) di Barcelona dan Shoya Tomizawa (perlumbaan) di Misano, perlumbaan tetap berjalan.

“Namun, secara peribadi, saya setuju jika perlumbaan hari ini tidak diteruskan,” tambah Rossi.

Saingan MotoGP pada Ahad menyaksikan Fabio Quartararo muncul juara diikuti Miguel Oliveira dan Joan Mir.

MotoGP: Fabio Quartararo Recorded Emotional Win At Mugello

Fabio Quartararo dedicated his third win of the season to Moto3 rider Jason Dupasquier, who succumbed to injuries sustained in qualifying.

The race was preceded by a minute of silence in memory of 19-year-old Dupasquier, as Race Direction announced his passing at the end of the Moto3 race.

Despite starting from pole, Quartararo was under heavy onslaught by Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia; however, the Italian rider was out of contention in the second lap due to an unforced error.

From that moment onwards, Quartararo marvels his way throughout the entire race with peerless performance, taking every corner with amazing speed to secure his third win of the season after six rounds.

“I’m very emotional. It’s very difficult today. It wasn’t easy to stay on the track. Every time I went past where he crashed, I was thinking about Jason Dupasquier.

“It’s not easy to manage the situation when you are at 340km/h, and you have to concentrate. This race for him” expressed Quartararo.

Meanwhile, KTM rider Miguel Oliveira took his first podium of the season by crossing the line 2.5 seconds behind Quartararo, followed by Joan Mir at third.

There was confusion at the end of the race as Race Direction declared the two exceeding track limits before reinstating Oliveira and Mir positions.

Mir shared his takes on the emotional race.

“There’s no preparation for it. Every one of us – more the riders, we feel this more than others because we can empathise a lot with this type of thing, because a lot of times we forget what can happen.

“We have to respect each other a lot, always to be responsible, and don’t forget that this is a dangerous sport.

“So all the strength that I can give to the family. It was a difficult day today at the office,” he said.

MotoGP: Fabio Quartararo Takes Fourth Pole In Mugello

Fabio Quartararo recorded his fourth consecutive pole position in style at Mugello ahead of Sunday’s Italian GP.

The factory Yamaha rider displayed incredible speed to clinch pole position with 1m 45.187s, breaking the lap record set by Francesco Bagnaia in FP3 with 1m 45.456s.

“This was probably the best lap I have ever done in my life.

“This is the type of track where you can feel the adrenaline. I was on the limit everywhere. In the first sector, I was moving all the time, but I just said, ‘I’m going to send it.

“Today was a good day. I really wanted this pole position because I know it’s important for us for the race,” said Quartararo.

Meanwhile, Bagnaia and Johann Zarco will accompany Quartararo at the front row after securing P2 and P3, respectively.

Despite struggling with a group of riders seeking a slipstream, Zarco managed to move up from twelfth place, thus putting him in an excellent spot to continue chasing the championship points.

Aleix Espargaro secured another impressive start to the season by coming in at P4, his best qualifying result so far onboard the RS-GP.

Jack Miller is also looking to continue his back-to-back wins in Jerez and Le Mans from P5 on the grid.

What Happened to Valentino Rossi in Mugello?

Valentino Rossi struggled immensely at the Italian MotoGP round at Mugello.
He qualified a lowly 18^thafter making mistakes in Q1.
He went off the road once and finally crashed out during the race.

To recap, it was a horrible weekend for Valentino Rossi at Mugello. He qualified 18^thon the grid, went off the road once before ultimately crashing out altogether.

Rossi had won nine times at Mugello, after all. But even when Yamaha started suffering, he qualified in pole position and led the race in 2016, only to see his Yamaha YZR-M1’s engine blow up later in the race. A year later, he finished fourth despite an injury prior to the race. Lastly, he finished on the podium last year.\

But everything unraveled at the Italian MotoGP 2019.

Although it seems that Yamaha has solved the tyre degradation problem, the bike still lacks acceleration and top speed. This is especially critical at the Tuscany track where we saw how the Ducati and Honda took the top spots in qualifying.

In Q1, Rossi was caught together with Alex Rins (Suzuki Ecstar). Matters were complicated by the presence of Mission Winnow Ducati riders Andrea Dovizioso and Michele Pirro who found themselves in Q1, too, due to their botched FP3 session. Keep in mind that only two fastest riders will advance to Q2.

Rossi didn’t want to provide Rins with the all too important slipstream but neither did Rins to Rossi. Because if one did so, one rider will progress to Q2 while the other stays behind.

Then Rossi made a mistake at the end of the session. His bike developed a huge headshake while exiting a corner in fourth gear. When he braked for the last turn, the brake lever came back all the way to the handlebar. Rossi overshot the corner, thereby ruining his chance to set a good time and progress to Q2.

The headshake had forced the brake pads back like after how a mechanic pries the pads apart to re-install the calipers. Brembo has a system which brings the pads back in contact with the brake disc, but Rossi didn’t install it because the system yields a different feel at the brake lever.

In the end, Rins was stuck in 13^thwhile Rossi ended up in 18^th. Both Dovizioso and Pirro snuck into Q2.

Over to the race, Rossi came together with Joan Mir on the other Suzuki and both went into the gravel. The former kept the bike going and rejoined the race. He finally crashed at the Arrabbiata 2 corner from pushing too hard.

Special Valentino Rossi VR46 Moto2 Team Livery for Mugello

The Valentino Rossi VR46 Moto2 team will field a special livery for the Mugello round.
The livery takes after the Italian tricolore flag.
Rider Luca Marini has the honour of riding the bike.

Fans of Valentino Rossi know that the flamboyant racer and multiple world champion will spring a surprise new helmet design when MotoGP reaches Mugello. But this time, there’s also a special livery for his VR46 Moto2 team.

The one-off livery consists of green, white and red colours as per the Italian tricolore flag, to mark the team’s home round. Rider Luca Marini has been riding with the blue and black Sky VR46 livery thus far, so we wonder if his leathers will match the special paint scheme.

Marini is the maternal half-brother of Valentino Rossi. He is currently lying in 9^thin the Moto2 championship this year and has yet to score a podium finish. Contrastingly, he finished five times on the podium including one win at the Malaysian round at the Sepang International Circuit.

His teammate in 2018 was Francesco Bagnaia who won eight races besides finishing each one of them on his way to being crowned the Moto2 champion. Bagnaia has moved up to MotoGP this year, riding for Alma Pramac Racing and partnering Jack Miller on the Ducati Desmosedici.

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Mugello

Yamaha is set to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its iconic sports bike, the Yamaha R1, with a special event at Mugello.

Pecco Bagnaia takes sensational Italian GP win in Mugello for Ducati ahead of defending MotoGP champion Fabio Quartararo.

Valentino Rossi struggled immensely at the Italian MotoGP round at Mugello.

He qualified a lowly 18thafter making mistakes in Q1.

He went off the road once and finally crashed out during the race.

The Valentino Rossi VR46 Moto2 team will field a special livery for the Mugello round.

The livery takes after the Italian tricolore flag.

Rider Luca Marini has the honour of riding the bike.

Defending MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo charts third win of the season in drama-filled Italian MotoGP.

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He qualified a lowly 18^thafter making mistakes in Q1.