Mugello is back in the MotoGP World Championship circuit after the pandemic would force its absence in 2020. The 2021 Italian MotoGP, and sixth stop of the calendar, is thus coming up this weekend (May 28-30). 

Ducati, winners of the Tuscany race since 2017, face the domestic race as the absolute favourites. The firm from Bologna is at a great competitive moment following the recent triumphs of Jack Miller in Spain and France. 

Miller’s teammate ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia -three podiums so far in 2021- will try and snatch the leadership of the standings from Quartararo, just one point ahead of him. The Mugello track, perfectly suited for the speed of the Desmosedici, will certainly play in his favour.  

The MICHELIN Power tires are ready to tackle one of the fastest and most demanding circuit of the year. Mugello is a difficult circuit layout for both the tires and the riders.

Download our #ItalianGP raceguide https://t.co/Z2ka6XLlTN#MichelinMotoGP pic.twitter.com/wkZ4bmq8ju

— Michelin Motorsport (@Michelin_Sport) May 25, 2021

Yamaha: Quartararo to defend his lead  

Despite the many factors in its favour for 2021 Italian MotoGP, the ‘Red Army’ is gonna have to sweat the win out at their home turf. After regaining the lead in France, Yamaha´s  Fabio Quartararo (80 points) will defend it tooth and nail ahead of Bagnaia (79). ‘The Diablo’ won in Doha & Portugal.  

His fellow Frenchman from Pramac Racing, Johann Zarco, is another threat Ducati will have to watch out for this weekend. Third, in the standings, he is sure to be found prowling at the top of the race. 

Suzuki, for its part, will arrive at the 2021 Italian MotoGP eager to make up for its disastrous weekend at Le Mans where neither Joan Mir nor Álex Rins classified. The current World Champion must regain some ground as he is starting to lag behind at 31 points from the top. 

Honda must make some progress

As it waits for the complete recovery of its star Marc Márquez, the team of the golden wing will continue enduring its particular torment as best as it can at the 2021 Italian MotoGP.

Despite crashing twice and finishing out of the points in France, the #93 took another leap forward at Le Mans, displaying some glimpses of his former self. 

Before his first crash, Márquez was actually commanding the race and interpreting the ‘flag to flag’ better than anyone. It is obvious, however, that the Spaniard still lacks the necessary confidence and rapport with the RC213V which, on top of that, does not get on with the current Michelin tires. 

The team has placed all its hopes on the seven-time MotoGP champion, and on his ability to decipher the reckless temperament of the Japanese beast. Only then will they be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

Takaaki Nakagami and Álex Márquez of Honda’s satellite team, LCR Idemitsu, will continue making progress adapting to their complex bikes. In France, the Spaniard and the Japanese teammates finished sixth and seventh, respectively, a result that denotes some improvement. 

After crashing several times in the three previous races, the Catalan pilot seems to have found some connection with his rebellious bike.

Meanwhile, Nakagami remains ninth in the standings with 28 points, ten more than Álex Márquez (fourteenth), a position that makes him the best Honda pilot on the grid. 

Rossi is optimistic about Mugello  

Valentino Rossi (Yamaha Petronas SRT), has been one of the greatest disappointments of the season but the Italian veteran has won at Mugello more times than anyone else, seven in total.

It would be the perfect scenario for him to get some of that former glory back. ‘Il Dottore’ has shown his optimism ahead of his home race. He has also claimed to be more comfortable with the M1 after the Jerez GP, as evidenced by his eleventh place at Le Mans. 

Meanwhile, his teammate Franco Morbidelli will try and make up for his fateful French GP weekend where he only managed 16th place following a fall. 

Images of 2021 Italian MotoGP: Ducati Twitter.