Italian Danilo Petrucci denies Marc Marquez to claim first MotoGP victory at famous Mugello circuit

Italy’s Danilo Petrucci has ridden the race of his life to claim his inaugural MotoGP victory on home soil in the Italian Grand Prix, but world champion Marc Marquez still had reason to smile.

Danilo Petrucci, an Italian riding for local team Ducati, held off Marc Marquez for his maiden MotoGP victory in the Italian Grand Prix.

The second place allowed Spaniard Marquez to increase his lead in the world championship ahead of another Italian on a Ducati, Andrea Dovizioso, who finished third after a prolonged three-way battle.

Five-time MotoGP champion Marquez on a Honda briefly took the lead in the last lap but Petrucci recaptured first place andwon.

“It’s amazing, I’m thrilled,” said 28-year-old Petrucci, who finished eighth in the 2017 and 2018 world championships.

“On front of my home crowd and in my town, it’s incredible, I can’t describe how I feel.”

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Italy's Danilo Petrucci leads fellow countryman Andrea Dovizioso. Picture: AP

Marquez — winner of three out of six races this season — started on pole but had to battle with the Ducati riders and Suzuki’s Alex Rins, who challenged hard despite starting back on the grid.

The four riders overtook each other several times but Petrucci found the power to pull clear on the final lap of the fastMugello circuit.

Italian star Valentino Rossi crashed out of his home race where the Yamaha rider has not won since 2008 after an impressive series of seven consecutive victories.

Italy's Danilo Petrucci celebrates on the podium after winning the Italian MotoGP.

Earlier, Spanish rider Alex Marquez, younger brother of world champion Marc Marquez, won the Moto2 to close in on the overall world championship lead.

Marquez, who also won last time out at Le Mans led a Kalex sweep ahead of teammates Italian Luca Marini, the half-brother of Italian star Valentino Rossi, and Swiss Thomas Luthi.

The Spaniard pulled clear of his rivals on lap 14 of 21 to finish 1.928sec ahead of Marini with Luthi at 2.242.

Italy's Danilo Petrucci (left) powers down his Ducati on the famous Mugello track.

Originally published as Italian Danilo Petrucci denies Marc Marquez to claim first MotoGP victory at famous Mugello circuit