Pecco Bagnaia saves a podium finish by 34 thousandths of a second: "I really gave everything for the fans."

A delirious crowd, having spilled onto the Mugello circuit's main straight, cheered a podium composed of true champions: Marco Bezzecchi, winner of his 10th Grand Prix in MotoGP, Jorge Martin, 2024 world champion back to his best level, and finally Pecco Bagnaia, four-time winner at home at Mugello.

The Italian Ducati rider sported a broad smile as he stepped onto the podium, fully aware of the difficulty of the race he had just completed. After an excellent start, Bagnaia quickly found himself at the front before taking the lead and holding it for many laps, until lap 14 when Marco Bezzecchi finally launched his attack and pulled away.

Bagnaia resists Ogura

Bagnaia then had to fight back, after also being overtaken by Jorge Martin, to maintain his 3rd place behind the untouchable Aprilias. This proved more complicated than expected at the end of the race when Ai Ogura, also riding an Aprilia, set a blistering pace, reeling off laps until he was right behind the Ducati bearing the number 63 on the final lap.

Although the Japanese driver attacked to try and climb onto his second podium in the premier category, he widened his trajectory at the start of the last corner and Pecco Bagnaia was able to cross back to better exit and retain his 3rd place by only 34 thousandths of a second.

⚔️ @PeccoBagnaia spoils the @Aiogura79 late show to defend 3rd place #ItalianGP 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/2GJbfB5NDK

- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) May 31, 2026

"I really gave everything for the audience here," he smiled upon arrival, delighted in front of a crowd won over to his cause. “It was very difficult because I was struggling a lot with the rear grip in the last few laps. I could see that the Aprilias were doing a superb job in that area, so I tried not to give Ai (Ogura) any space at the end of the race. Thank you to everyone, thank you to my team who did a superb job and deserve this kind of result.”

The two-time world champion thus enjoys a second consecutive podium finish after taking 3rd place in Catalonia.

ALSO READ > Marco Bezzecchi, winner at Mugello: "I've dreamed of this since I was a child"