Free Practice two from the Italian MotoGP at Mugello as it happened

Round eight of the 2022 MotoGP World Championship takes place at Mugello, Italy. 

Update: Takaaki Nakagami dominated FP1 after setting a time of 1:46.662s - 0.408s clear of Aleix Espargaro and Francesco Bagnaia. 

Although Nakagami elected to set a time attack, it wasn’t an all out attempt by the LCR Honda rider as he chose to run a new medium rear as opposed to the soft tyre.

After winning his third race of the 2022 season in Le Mans, remaining the only rider to win more than once so far this campaign, Enea Bastianini had brought himself back to within ten points of the championship lead. 

In typical Bastianini style, the Gresini Ducati rider used his late race pace to apply intense pressure to long-time race leader Francesco Bagnaia before the Italian made a mistake at turn eight, which was followed by a crash five corners later. 

Bagnaia wasn’t alone in suffering a costly crash as both Suzuki riders Joan Mir and Alex Rins also suffered blows to their championship hopes.

Winner at Mugello in 2021, reigning MotoGP champion Fabio Quartararo will be looking to make it back-to-back wins at the Italian circuit, however, competition is once again expected to be extremely tough. 

Fresh off a new two-year deal with Aprilia, Aleix Espargaro goes into this weekend on a streak of three consecutive podiums, which is best of any rider. 

Second in the championship, Espargaro has so far been a model for consistency in 2022, which is why the Spaniard, who was deservedly rewarded for his performances is just four points behind Quartararo. 

Of the current riders in MotoGP, Quartararo, Marc Marquez and Andrea Dovizioso are equal on one win apiece at Mugello. 

Since the beginning of the MotoGP era, Valentino Rossi has the most wins [7] at Mugello which is two more than a rider who made his M1 Yamaha sing around Tuscan-based circuit, Jorge Lorenzo. 

Yet to claim a victory this season, Honda heads into Mugello as the only manufacturer unable to achieve that so far in 2022. 

And although they would like that to change as soon as possible, Mugello could prove difficult as it’s a circuit where both Repsol Honda riders have struggled previously. 

Since joining MotoGP in 2013, Marquez has just one win in Mugello (2014), while Pol Espargaro has claimed a best of fifth which came as a rookie in 2014 - his only top five at Mugello in eight premier class seasons.