TUESday JUNE 17, 2025
Mugello. Italy
Mugello. Italy
Circuit Information:
Track length: 3.259 miles / 5.245 kilometers
Right Corners: 9
Left Corners: 6
Longest Straight: 0.709 miles / 1.141 kilometers
Constructed: 1974
Time zone: GMT +2/ CET +1 / EST +6 / PCT +9
Notes & Quotes:
The MotoGP World Championship marches on to Round 9 and the Tuscan hills of Italy beckon. Mugello – one of the classically iconic circuits on the Grand Prix calendar – steeped in tradition, passion and a home race for Trackhouse MotoGP Team’s factory partner – Aprilia.
The American Team was a rider down in the last two rounds, Silverstone and Aragon, as #79 Ai Ogura was unable to ride after crashing heavily in the first free practice session at the British Grand Prix. Declared unfit in Aragon and unable to take part in the MotoGP test - on the Monday, immediately after the Grand Prix at Motorland - his progress since has been positive. With final medical examinations due this week, prior to arrival in Italy, the team are confident that the 24-year-old rookie, from Tokyo, will be re-united with his RS-GP24 for opening practice, on the Friday of the Italian Grand Prix.
Ai will be keen to re-acquaint himself with the speed of his MotoGP bike and no better place than Mugello. The circuit features the longest straight of the season, over 3,700 feet (1.14 Kilometers) where the Trackhouse Aprilia will top out at around 225 mph (360 kilometers per hour). The track is also challenging in its mix of corners and elevation – clockwise and featuring long curves and some slow turns, particularly the hairpin right at the end of the main straightaway and again late in the lap at 12, the riders are on the right side of tire for long periods before some quick lefts and changes of direction through blind apexes. Confidence and a good set-up is key as it is an ‘old school’ ribbon of asphalt that snakes its way around a natural bowl, lined with massed ranks of noisy, knowledgeable, fans. Ai has podiumed at Mugello, in the 2022 Moto2 race and is keen to get his MotoGP rookie season back underway after two rounds missed.
For the Trackhouse #25, Raul Fernandez, last year’s 10th in the Sprint and 12th in the Italian Grand Prix will be targets he is looking to better. After a strong run to 10th in the Grand Prix of Aragon last time out and a successful day of testing, he is finding increasing confidence and speed with his RS-GP25, after a tough start to the season. Like his teammate, Raul has podiumed at Mugello in Moto2 – taking a second place in 2021 and having produced strong race pace in Aragon, wants more in Italy.
Italy is home for Trackhouse racing partner Aprilia and as a nation steeped in motorsport history, for Trackhouse, that makes the trip to the heart of Tuscany particularly special. With Ai back in business, it is a Grand Prix weekend full of promise.
AI OGURA
“First of all, I feel a lot better with my leg now - I start to feel I can ride a bike and I can race so, I think, my physical condition is going in a good direction. I have been off the bike since Silverstone, which doesn’t seem to be a long time, but I missed one race and the test, so I also believe I will need to have a bit of recovery time during the early session in the race weekend. That’s part of the game and I hope I pass through the medical check on Thursday. If everything is ok, I can’t wait to be on my bike again and start to build up everything from the beginning. I’m impatient to get back on the bike and work with my team, I need racing now and I’m happy to get going.”
RAÚL FERNÁNDEZ
“At the test in Aragon we made another step. The last three races have been quite good for us and now the aim is to keep the same line of progress - I would like to make another step forward. I’m very motivated to go there, to Mugello, to see how we can improve the weekend, how we can manage our situation and anyway, I’m very confident because we are doing a good job at the moment.”
“We are going to Mugello, of course, one of the classic MotoGP rounds and one of the most passion filled. It is a kind of mixed feeling - we come from some good races with Raul where he found a better pace, a good rhythm and especially after the Monday test in Aragon, we also had the possibility to test new items and work a little bit on the setting. So, hopefully, we will be able to put everything on the track during this weekend. Then of course, we need to understand about Ai. He is going to have the last medical check on Thursday at the track and then we will know whether he will be able to race or not. We know that if he will be able to race, he probably won’t be at 100%, but it will be very important to get back on the bike, restart and keep up the pace. Let’s hope Ai will be with us and with Raul we are looking forward to using everything we learned at the test.”
- DAVIDE BRIVIO, TEAM PRINCIPAL
2025 MotoGP Championship Standings – after Round 8 - Aragon:
#79 Ai Ogura - Championship position: 12th Total Points: 43
#25 Raul Fernandez - Championship position: 19th Total Points: 25
Trackhouse MotoGP Team standing - Championship position: 9th Total Points: 68
Track action at the Grand Prix of Italy gets underway with FP1 – Friday, June 20 at 10.45 am (GMT+2)
