P1racenews AI automatic summary:
MotoGP’s post-Italian Grand Prix test day at Mugello was effectively rained out, more or less neutralising one of the three in-season collective tests available to the grid
The post-Italian Grand Prix test day at Mugello for MotoGP was heavily affected by rain, which essentially nullified one of the three in-season collective test opportunities for the teams. Despite a brief dry start, the wet conditions quickly made the day unproductive, rendering the eight-hour session practically irrelevant.
Brad Binder from KTM managed to top the timesheets with a 1m47.617s lap, just edging out newcomer Pedro Acosta from Tech3 Gas Gas. However, both were far off the pole time from the race weekend, emphasizing the lack of representative running.
The rainy conditions deterred most riders, with only a handful managing to clock times in the 1m47s range. Binder humorously remarked that the rain ruined the opportunity after briefly hitting the track in the dry.
The setback was particularly frustrating for MotoGP’s European manufacturers, who have limited chances to test with their regular riders compared to their Japanese counterparts with designated private testing days. Riders like Marco Bezzecchi highlighted the challenges of adapting to wet conditions across different tracks.
For Raul Fernandez of Trackhouse Aprilia, the disrupted test day meant missing out on crucial track time ahead of an upcoming surgery and potential bike switch. With only one more collective test scheduled at Misano in September, the dampened Mugello test magnified the missed chances for crucial development.
