MOTOR RACING: Bezzecchi spoils Ducati's centenary party with Italian Grand Prix victory

Marco Bezzecchi beat teammate Jorge Martin to win the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday as Aprilia ruined Ducati's centenary celebrations on home turf in Mugello after Francesco Bagnaia briefly led the race.

Bagnaia, a three-time winner in Mugello from 2022 to 2024, led the race until there were 10 laps left when Bezzecchi made his move before Martin also moved past the Italian to drop him down to third.

There was no stopping Bezzecchi after he moved into the lead as the Italian took the chequered flag over three seconds ahead of Martin for his first win at the famous circuit.

Meanwhile, Bagnaia's late heroics denied Aprilia a podium lockout when Trackhouse rider Ai Ogura briefly took third on the final lap before the Italian took the place back just before the finish line.

-Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne/Reuters