Heavy pressure on Italian riders ahead of 2025 MotoGP Mugello

Italian riders bear a heavy burden to uphold their nation’s honor — ahead of the 2025 Italian MotoGP taking place this weekend at the Mugello Circuit.

Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati Lenovo team, who has been Italy’s pride, currently isn’t positioned as a favorite to win at his home race. Nevertheless, his achievements with the Bologna-based manufacturer have made history by winning three consecutive series at Mugello.

• Sprint and main race victories in 2024
• Sprint and main race victories in 2023
• Main race victory in 2022

Bagnaia’s achievements still fall short of legend Valentino Rossi’s record of seven consecutive victories at Mugello between 2002 and 2009. Bagnaia’s success in the last three years has ended the Spanish riders’ dominance that lasted from 2010 to 2018.