Italy, May 25 (Agency) The MotoGP World Championship returns to the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello for round six of the 2021 season, and Honda riders Marc Marquez and Pol Espargaro are ready for their next challenge. With a wet and wild French GP behind them, the Repsol Honda Team have regrouped and are ready to do it all again at the Italian Grand Prix.
Having been unable to race in Mugello in 2020 due to the global pandemic, 2021 marks a welcome return to the iconic Italian circuit. 2019 produced a thrilling battle with Marc Marquez taking second by just 0.043s after an intense race with Petrucci and Dovizioso. Marc Marquez arrives in Italy buoyed by his showing in France, leading the race and lapping faster than the leaders despite suffering a fall. Although his efforts were ultimately unrewarded, the eight-time World Champion showed he has lost none of his champion’s spirit during his recovery. But Marquez remains realistic about his physical condition and understands it will be another weekend of steady work.
Mugello was the scene of Marquez’s first Grand Prix win back in 2010 in the 125cc class, joined on the podium by 2021 team-mate Pol Espargaro. Continually showing flashes of speed throughout the 2021 season, Pol Espargaro is aiming to put everything together in Mugello and deliver on his potential. Impressive dry-weather speed was left to count for little on Sunday in France, but the Repsol Honda Team rider remains as determined and focused as ever heading to Italy. Confirming his dry-weather feeling from Le Mans on the Honda RC213V around the 5.2km long circuit will be Espargaro’s first objective for the weekend.
The Italian GP starts another double-header weekend with the Catalan Grand Prix following the very next weekend, an intense period for riders and teams but an exciting one for fans. Action in Italy begins at 0955 hrs local time on May 28 with Free Practice 1.