Valentino Rossi will start his home MotoGP race at Mugello from pole position after setting the pace in qualifying with a late run.
In front of euphoric crowds, Rossi put in a 1m46.504 in Q2 to secure first place on the grid for Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix.
The Yamaha rider beat Suzuki’s Maverick Vinales by just 0.094 seconds, with Ducati’s Andrea Iannone taking the final spot on the front row.
The Honda duo of Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa were fourth and seventh, split by championship leader Jorge Lorenzo and Aleix Espargaro in the second Suzuki bike.
Bradley Smith and the two Pramac riders of Danilo Petrucci and Scott Redding completed the top 10, ahead of Ducati’s Michele Pirro and Yonny Hernandez.
Andrea Dovizioso struggled at Mugello and could only manage 13th on the grid for his home race. Pol Espargaro and Cal Crutchlow both crashed in Q1 and qualified 14th and 16th, with Hector Barbera between them.
Jack Miller, Eugene Laverty, Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl are next up on the grid. Loris Baz will start last following the withdrawal of Tito Rabat due to injury.
