Aleix Espargaro quickest in Italian Grand Prix practice

Aleix Espargaro was quickest in the opening practice sessions for this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix yesterday, as MotoGP championship leader Fabio Quartararo struggled for pace.
Aprilia rider Espargaro posted the fastest time in Mugello of one minute and 45.891 seconds.
The Spaniard sits second in the riders’ standings, just four points behind reigning champion Quartararo after seven races.
Frenchman Quartararo had to settle for ninth yesterday’s timesheets, more than six tenths of a second slower than his title rival.
“I didn’t feel good on the bike,” said Quartararo.
“It’s not just a question of speed, more feeling and confidence.”
Ducati bikes made up the next five places behind Espargaro at the manufacturer’s home race, with Francesco Bagnaia only 0.049secs slower than Espargaro and Jack Miller rounding out the top three.
Japan’s Takaaki Nakagami was fastest in the first session but ended the day 13th quickest, just behind six-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez.
This weekend marks the return of supporters to the Tuscan track for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Max Biaggi becomes a MotoGP legend
Max Biaggi is now officially a MotoGP Legend. The four-time 250cc World Champion was inducted into the MotoGP Hall of Fame at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley, with the spectacular Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello proving the perfect backdrop.
Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta presented Biaggi with his MotoGP Legend Medal at the ceremony yesterday, with plenty of famous faces from the paddock in attendance – and a very special video message sent in from Prince Albert II of Monaco, too.
Incredibly – given the career he would go on to build – Biaggi started racing late, first competing at the age of 18. From there, his rise was stratospheric as 1991 saw his first Grand Prix races and points in the 250cc class, 1992 heralded his first win and by 1994, the “Roman Emperor” was a World Champion for the first time – also taking Aprilia’s first title in the 250cc class.
The glory didn’t stop there as Biaggi took the 250cc crown four times in a row and with two different factories, reigning in the category from 1994 until 1997 inclusive and reserving his place in history as one of the best ever to race in the class.