Mugello Test: rain affects play as Binder, Acosta and Marini lead the way

A damp Monday after the Italian GP hampers testing in Tuscany, with KTM and Honda sharing the top five.

Following overnight rain and showers throughout the day, running at the MotoGP™ Mugello Test was limited. 16 of the 23 riders set lap times, with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder fastest with a 1:47.617 – 0.033s quicker than Pedro Acosta’s (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) best effort. Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Team) completed the top three as RC16s and RC213Vs locked out the top five.

RED BULL KTM – RED BULL GASGAS TECH3
It’s good that Binder topped the timesheets because that gives us the perfect excuse to kick things off with – arguably – the most notable update we spotted at Mugello. The Pierer Mobility Group bikes had new aero on them, the same as they had in the Jerez Test, with the update essentially sheathing the full side fairing, now making it a completely smooth surface. Head over to the MotoGP™ Tech Group on Facebook for more information on the new aero.

Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was P4 and clocked the second highest lap tally (32) with Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) only getting a wet weather lap time on the board in P13.

REPSOL HONDA – CASTROL/IDEMITSU HONDA LCR
Marini ended the day P3 on the timesheets, with the Italian lapping a table-topping 40 times in the differing conditions. Reports from the ground suggest there was nothing much new to report in terms of new parts on the HRC machines that we didn’t see at the Italian GP, with the weather curtailing every manufacturer’s plans. Ergonomics-wise, Marini was spotted trying a new tank cover as he attempts to get comfier on the RC213V.

Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) said a new engine was going to be tested, but one that is only a slight change to the current one. The Spaniard suggested Honda are seeking to have a new engine ready for July, so keep an eye on that in the coming weeks.

Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) and Takaaki Nakagami (Idemitsu Honda LCR) racked up 58 laps between them, neither managed any dry running though.

APRILIA – TRACKHOUSE
Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) was the top RS-GP rider in P6, with both his and teammate Aleix Espargaro’s bikes looking like they were standard-spec. Not much to report from the Noale camp.

In the Trackhouse Racing garage, Raul Fernandez had one 2024-spec RS-GP but the Spaniard completed just six laps on Monday. On the other side of the garage, Miguel Oliveira also clocked six laps on a quiet day for the American outfit.

MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA
With a private test coming up soon in Valencia, both Alex Rins and Fabio Quartararo lapped less than 20 times on Monday, with neither going out when the track was dry.

More work will be done at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo for Yamaha ahead of our trip to Assen at the end of this month.

DUCATI LENOVO – PRIMA PRAMAC – GRESINI – PERTAMINA ENDURO VR46
The only two Ducati riders to roll out of pitlane and set a lap time were Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) and Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™). The Italian and Spaniard were P15 and P16 on the timesheets respectively. Still, a couple rolled round, including Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™). Fresh from their 1-2, neither Ducati Lenovo Team rider did.

So that’s it from Mugello. The Cathedral of Speed is where we’ll see the MotoGP™ stars next on track between the 28th and 30th of June – see you there. By then, we might have even more of the 2025 puzzle revealed!