Moto2: Italian GP Preview: The Italians are coming home

The Moto2 championship is already full of Italians and they’re all coming home for the Italian GP – the one that they all want to win. Francesco Bagnaia is the championship leader but there is plenty more talent to come from other Italians such as Lorenzo Baldassarri and Mattia Pasini, not to mention the likes of Romano Fenati and Stefano Manzi, both of whom came good at Le Mans last time out.

Bagnaia is looking strong after the opening five races of the year and is enjoying a commanding 25 point advantage over KTM’s Miguel Oliveira. Bagnaia is looking to make it another win in 2018, his fourth in six races if he manages it – replicating Franco Morbidelli’s success from last year. Bagnaia didn’t have a great race last year at Mugello, crashing out on the last lap. However, this will not be in his mind this year, as he goes in pursuit to become the 11th Italian to win an intermediate class race at Mugello.

Miguel Oliveira and KTM are 2nd in the championship and have work to do if they are to remain in the championship race. The Portuguese ace has been somewhat underwhelming in 2018, having had such a fantastic end to the season in 2017. Yet to finish outside the top six but also yet to take a win this year, Oliveira will look to rekindle the memories of his 2015 Moto3 win at Mugello – his and Portugal’s first ever GP victory. MotoGP-bound Oliveira was 5th last season and will need to be on the podium at the very least, if he is to keep in touch with the championship leader.

Alex Marquez’s 2nd place finish at Le Mans lifted him up to 3rd overall in the standings, having had a bad Spanish GP of which he crashed out of. Marquez is still chasing his first win of the season and his first since Motegi last season and with three podiums already, he will look to mount the top step of the rostrum in his rivals’ backyard. Marquez hasn’t had back-to-back podiums since Brno and the Red Bull Ring last season and it is about time that he was able to achieve that success again. Could it be a win at Mugello for the younger Marquez brother?

Lorenzo Baldassarri is next up in the series standings, 34 points off the championship lead. The Italian had a great race in 2016 at Mugello, battling tooth and nail with Johann Zarco to the delight of the home audience, eventually finishing 2nd. ‘Iron Balda’ will want to go one better this year, having had a good start to the 2017 race but crashing out early on, with a high side at the final corner. Baldassarri is extremely popular and a win for him would send Mugello into a frenzy – just in time for the MotoGP race!

Mattia Pasini brought a tear to everyone’s eyes last year when he put on an overtaking masterclass to win the Moto2 race on the final lap – his first ever Moto2 triumph. Pasini will want to replicate that achievement again in 2018, having finished all but one race – Le Mans – inside the top ten. A win in Argentina already this season, Pasini is looking to take two wins in a year for the first time since 2007 in the 125cc class. Can he master Mugello again?

Xavi Vierge is quietly going about his business in Moto2, putting in splendid rides which have subsequently placed him sixth overall in the championship. Coming from the back of the grid last time out and finishing a hearty 5th, the former CEV Moto2 runner-up will want to take his first Moto2 victory this weekend. Having not started last year’s race and not finished at Mugello the year before, Vierge goes to Tuscany with a point to prove. Is he a genuine championship contender?

Other honourable mentions before the weekend should go to Joan Mir, Marcel Schrotter and Romano Fenati. Mir achieved his first podium last time out at Le Mans, whilst Marcel Schrotter achieved his best finish in Moto2 in France with a 4th place. Fenati likewise achieved his first finish, with a seventh place and comes home to the Italian GP in search of his first podium. Andrea Locatelli is also showing great progress, as he has finished in a higher position in each GP so far this year than the GP before. His best finish is 12th and will have eyes on the top ten.