Paris (AFP)

With results that will make the competition at Mugello pale as they have since the start of the season, Ducati is approaching "his" Italian Motorcycle Grand Prix as a favorite, where his riders Jack Miller, Francesco Bagnaia and Johann Zarco will claim victory on Sunday.

The Tuscan hills provide a fast and smooth course ideal for red motorcycles, which stand out for their top speed.

The Italian manufacturer has won the last three editions there in 2019, 2018 and 2017 (the race was canceled last year because of the Covid-19) and has not left the podium since 2015.

This year, what is more, the Borgo Panigale brand is illustrated everywhere: it has placed at least one of its four flagship motorcycles, more often two, in the Top 3 of the five races contested and remains on two doubled in Spain and in France.

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When it comes to top honors, Ducati is spoiled for choice.

Official driver Jack Miller emerged victorious at Jerez and Le Mans and the Australian can have peace of mind after extending his contract to 2022.

His teammate Francesco Bagnaia is second in the championship, one length behind French leader Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) but the Italian is still chasing his first MotoGP success.

Like the Frenchman Johann Zarco, for the Pramac satellite team, three times second this season and third in the drivers' standings, twelve lengths behind the first.

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On the side of Pramac, on the other hand, it is still necessary to do without the Spaniard Jorge Martin, injured in Portugal in mid-April and replaced by the Ducati test rider, the Italian Michele Pirro.

- "Do something good" -

Mass being said and victory promised to Ducati?

Quartararo does not understand it that way.

"It's a circuit that I like a lot and we can do something good", wants to believe the Frenchman, questioned by AFP, in spite of the speed deficit of the Yamaha on the endless straight line of the pits, long more than a kilometer.

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Disabled in Spain by pain in his right forearm caused by compartment syndrome, "El Diablo" put this concern behind him thanks to an operation in early May and demonstrated it with a third position at home, in France .

On the side of the Yamaha, satellites this time, we will also look towards the national hero Valentino Rossi (SRT), who at 42 years old is perhaps playing the season too many, with the best result an eleventh place in France and a sad nineteenth. position only among pilots.

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At Honda, there is also the six-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez, who is resuming his marks after a season of absence due to injury.

Admittedly, he fell in the rain at Le Mans but the Spaniard is gradually regaining his greatness.

In Moto2, focus on the teammates of the KTM Ajo team, Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez, separated by a point in the riders' standings to the advantage of the first.

The veteran Australian has yet to win in 2021, while the Spanish debutant has already done so twice.

In Moto3, we await the next feat of the Spanish "rookie" Pedro Acosta, 17 years since Tuesday and comfortable leader of the championship with 54 points ahead!

© 2021 AFP