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 track 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.

Miller is coming off a "rather phenomenal fortnight" with victory at Jerez and then Le Mans and, after extending his contract to 2022, the Australian can "focus on what (he) loves most: driving" .

And try to put an end to his long series of retirements in this GP.

- New speed record?

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His team-mate Bagnaia is second in the championship, one length behind French leader Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) and the Italian is chasing his first MotoGP success.

"At home, that would be fantastic!"

This is also the case for 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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But before that, the Frenchman has another idea in mind: to improve his absolute MotoGP speed record (362.4 km / h in Qatar) on a pit straight, more than a kilometer long.

“We have the best bike in the world to do it and everything is set to go at that speed: we have the right bike to brake, the aerodynamics that help to go fast and slow down properly,” Zarco said.

On the other hand, his Pramac team will have to do without the Spaniard Jorge Martin, injured in Portugal in mid-April and replaced by the Ducati test rider, the Italian Michele Pirro.

- Optimistic Quartararo -

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 French, questioned by AFP, in spite of the speed deficit of Yamaha.

Indeed, he notes, this did not prevent him and his teammate Maverick Vinales (who became a father this week) from winning in Qatar at the start of the season.

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Disabled in Spain by pain in the right forearm caused by compartment syndrome, "El Diablo" underwent successful surgery in early May, to resume with a third place in France.

Spaniard Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia) did the same after Le Mans.

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

"The four races which come are very important to get results", does not hide the one whose future will be decided during the break in July.

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

On a "particularly demanding" circuit, the Spaniard, who still suffers from his right shoulder, knows that it will not be his "best weekend" and promises "not to push too hard physically and mentally".

In Moto2, focus on the teammates at KTM Ajo, 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 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