After a dramatic and injury-hit Catalan Grand Prix, MotoGP heads to one of its most iconic venues as the 2026 season rolls into Mugello for the Italian Grand Prix.
Ahead of the action, live on SPOTV NOW, here are five key facts to know.
Ducati’s home fortress
Ducati Lenovo Team finally ended their lengthy Sunday podium drought at the Catalan Grand Prix when Francesco Bagnaia was promoted to third, offering a timely boost ahead of their home race.
Few circuits have been kinder to Ducati than Mugello. The Italian manufacturer has won seven of the last eight premier-class races at the Tuscan venue, with Fabio Quartararo’s 2021 victory for Yamaha the only interruption to that dominant run. Bagnaia himself has been especially formidable at Mugello, winning multiple times in front of his home fans, making this an ideal opportunity for Ducati to build momentum after a difficult start to 2026.
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Injury concerns shrinking full-time grid
The MotoGP full-time grid could be depleted when the paddock arrives in Mugello. Álex Márquez and Johann Zarco have joined Marc Márquez on the injury list following separate crashes at the Catalan Grand Prix, while Fabio Di Giannantonio sat out the Barcelona Test and Jorge Martín also suffered a heavy fall during that session.
Since the grid was reduced to 22 full-time riders in 2023 following Suzuki’s departure, the lowest turnout of full-timers in that span was 17 at the 2025 German Grand Prix and the 2023 Argentine Grand Prix. Depending on late medical clearances, Mugello could see teams calling up a handful of replacement riders.
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Ogura closing in on personal milestone
Ai Ogura’s impressive sophomore MotoGP season could deliver another milestone this weekend. The Trackhouse Racing rider has scored points in five of the opening six Grands Prix, highlighted by a podium finish in the United States, and already sits on 77 points. That leaves the Japanese star just 13 points shy of surpassing his entire rookie-season tally of 89 points from 22 races last year.
If he continues his strong form at Mugello, Ogura could eclipse that mark before the championship even reaches its halfway stage, underlining how quickly the 2024 Moto2 world champion has adapted to premier-class racing.
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Aprilia chasing new benchmark
Aprilia have been the early pace-setters in 2026, with Marco Bezzecchi spearheading a dominant start to the season. As a constructor, Aprilia have already recorded four Grand Prix wins this year, matching their best tally set in 2025, with some help from Trackhouse MotoGP Team.
With Ducati still searching for consistency and several rivals dealing with injury setbacks, Mugello could give Aprilia the chance to set a new single-season record for premier-class victories, all before the campaign crosses its one-third point.
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Baggers World Cup returns for Round 2
MotoGP will not be the only attraction in Mugello, with the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup returning for its second round of the season as a support class. After making its debut at the Circuit of the Americas in March, the championship resumes with plenty of intrigue, including Indonesian outfit Niti Racing welcoming former MotoGP race winner Andrea Iannone to its line-up.
Championship leader Archie McDonald arrives as the rider to beat after his strong opening weekend in Texas, while Óscar Gutiérrez and Jake Lewis will also be names to watch as the unique support series adds another spectacle to the Italian Grand Prix weekend.
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