It’s MotoGP time! The final weekend of May finds us in the mountainous countryside midway between Bologna and Florence at the delightful and challenging circuit of Mugello. With the exception of the already-missed Brno, there aren’t many racing venues that compare to its long turns and fast esses, let alone its 220mph pit straight. Anyway, the circuit is back on the MotoGP calendar, having taken a year off in 2020 to save F1’s arse, and promises to deliver the usual mix of close racing, infuriatingly close Moto3 slipstreaming battles, and that rather dangerous approach into the first corner which makes you somewhat relieved when they’re packing up on Sunday evening and the worst has not happened.
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Here’s the schedule, which Dorna keep very consistent. No MotoE this weekend, and for that matter no live coverage on ITV, more’s the pity. Take an hour off to get the UK time, if that’s helpful.
Friday, 28 May
9am: Moto3 practice 1
9.55: MotoGP practice 1
10.55: Moto2 practice 1
1.15pm: Moto3 practice 2
2.10: MotoGP practice 2
3.10: Moto2 practice 2
Saturday, 29 May
9am: Moto3 practice 3
9.55: MotoGP practice 3
10.55: Moto2 practice 3
12.35pm: Moto3 qualifying
1.30: MotoGP practice 4
2.10: MotoGP qualifying
3.10: Moto 2 qualifying
Sunday, 30 May
8.40am: Moto3 warm-up
9.10: Moto2 warm-up
9.40: MotoGP warm-up
11: Moto3 race
12.20pm: Moto2 race
2: MotoGP race
What’s going on in MotoGP land? It’s still a bit early to determine the shape of this year’s championship but in semi-contrast to last season a classic Yamaha vs Ducati fight is emerging, with the fast-turning, smooth-handling Japanese bike closely matched with the power and acceleration of Borgo Panigale’s machine. The Yamaha’s characteristics used to be considered “rider-friendly”, so it comes as a shock that there’s only one rider on their books, Fabio Quartararo, who can take it to the swarm of fast Ducati riders (in reality: three) who are bothering the top places. I say one Yamaha rider, but he can’t be that comfortable as he’s already opted for arm pump surgery to alleviate the strain of his death-grip on the bike’s handlebars. And I say three riders, because everyone’s favourite rider from Qatar, Jorge Martin, is still injured after his nasty fall in practice for April’s Portuguese Grand Prix. He’ll be replaced this weekend by the factory’s test rider, Michele Pirro, who is continuing his practice of turning up at the Italian rounds and getting into a minor points-scoring position before Gigi Dall’Igna drags him off to spend the next six months with him in hell. The others? Suzuki are competitive, but haven’t recaptured the tyre-whispering magic of 2020. KTM have vanished. Honda’s prospects are as always equivalent to those of Marc Marquez, and the eight-time world champion spent last race at Le Mans demonstrating that he still has the old talent, fire and indiscretion, but not yet the fitness. Two crashes and a non-score has left the deficit to first-in-points to look insurmountable, even with three-quarters of the season still to go.
Is that a downbeat note? Well, Marc’s getting stronger, and perhaps angrier, all the time. Jack Miller’s won two Grands Prix in a row for the first time since April 2014. There are a lot of other riders who want to stop him getting his first ever three-in-a-row. It’ll be good. Promise!
) are not far off... And less than a second covering the top 19! 
