P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Brad Binder predicts his MotoGP record could be broken – Francesco Bagnaia believes traction matters more than top speed.
Mugello, the host of this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, holds MotoGP’s official top speed record, with Brad Binder setting the staggering 366.1km/h (227.5mph) during the 2023 Sprint race. Pol Espargaro also reached this speed during last year’s free practice session.
Binder is confident that the record could be surpassed this year as the 2025 MotoGP field tackles the high-speed Tuscan track, praising his bike for its exceptional performance.
Francesco Bagnaia, winning the last three Mugello GPs, emphasizes the importance of traction and acceleration over sheer top speed, evidenced by his success at the recent Aragon round.
Reflecting on the upcoming race at Mugello, Bagnaia notes the significance of top-end performance while stressing the crucial role of corner exit traction for successful overtaking.
Aerodynamic downforce enhancements have limited improvements in top speed due to increased drag, with the 850cc engines set to replace the current 1000cc machines in MotoGP from 2027 onward.
