Danilo Petrucci's Incredible Win At Muguello

Danilo Petrucci's first MotoGP win was a storybook ending to a hard-fought, three-way battle between his teammate and mentor Andrea Dovizioso, and Honda's wonder boy, Marc Márquez. An Italian, on a Ducati, at Mugello, taking victory on the last lap, no less. But fairy- tale endings must have beginnings—sometimes difficult ones.

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Petrucci came to the Italian Grand Prix with the flu, conditions were hot, and finding grip was difficult. Nothing has come easy in his racing story: injuries; difficult equipment; mechanical failures. He’s gone on record saying he’s thought of hanging it up, that he didn’t belong in MotoGP. Still, the 28-year-old from Terni battled for the lead lap after lap. Then in Turn 1, leader Márquez went wide, second-place Dovizioso went underneath, and Petrucci saw his chance. The door—or window, as he said—was left open. He went through, and got his happy ending.