Miguel Oliveira conquers the victory after an amazing battle against Lorenzo Baldassarri, successfully winning over the Italian rider. Mir steps on the podium too, defeating Bagnaia.
Miguel Oliveira stands out at Mugello Circuit today: the Portuguese rider engaged in a fierce battle with Lorenzo Baldassarri and Francesco Bagnaia. He eventually managed to win the race, getting another victory for the Red Bull KTM Ajo. Second place for the Italian rider of the Pons HP40 team, with Joan Mir taking up the last step on the podium winning over the current World Championship leader (who was suffering for some pain in an arm). [ph. Marco Lanfranchi]
Schrotter and Marquez kicked off remarkably, as did Bagnaia and Fenati. But the race ended at the first turn for the German rider, as he slipped on gravel. The battle for the first step on the podium has been intense since the very first moment, with Pasini (who managed to get back to a leading position after a bad start) and Oliveira heading a group of seven riders. Fenati lost the rest of the group after a few laps when he went out of track; then he was also forced to go back to the pit lane and eventually withdrew from the race for an issue with his arm. Nagashima and Barbera hit each other and had to pull back as well, and the Race Direction is now investigating the accident.
The struggle to take the lead of today’s race seemed a deal among four riders: Pasini firmly defending the first position, followed by Oliveira, Bagnaia, and Baldassarri, all pushing to their limits. But there was an unexpected turn of events just 8 laps to go when the poleman went down attempting to repeat his 2017 success. Baldassarri and Oliveira kept on fighting for the first place all the way up until the chequered flag, saving no energy. But ‘Pecco’, initially left behind, performed a great comeback and reached the leading duo taking Mir along: the four of them crossed the finish line together.
Miguel Oliveira got the winning idea: not only he managed to take the lead of the race, but he also gained a small safety margin that allowed him to cross the finish line first. Lorenzo Baldassarri arrived 2nd and Joan Mir 3rd, getting his third podium of the season and winning over the World Champion Francesco Bagnaia. Alex Marquez finished 5th, followed by Brad Binder and Luca Marini, while Andrea Locatelli, Xavi Vierge, and Simone Corsi filled the remaining positions in the top ten.
The ranking
