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Image Gallery: 2015 Mugello MotoGP

Action images from the Italian Grand Prix

June 3, 2015

2015 Mugello MotoGP - Jorge Lorenzo - Image courtesy of Yamaha

Movistar Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo qualified on the second row but led every lap of the race on his YZR-M1, for his third MotoGP victory in a row. Lorenzo now sits second in the standings, just eight points behind Valentino Rossi.

2015 Mugello MotoGP - Andrea Iannone - Image courtesy of Ducati

Despite riding with an injured shoulder, Andrea Iannone qualified in pole position and finished second in the race aboard the Ducati GP15. "At the start I wanted to try and stay with Jorge: he didn’t have a better pace than me, but he did manage to keep that pace by taking fewer risks. When I realized that I was pushing too hard, I tried to maintain my speed, do my own race and keep one eye on my shoulder, which from mid-race onwards was showing signs of tiredness."

2015 Mugello MotoGP - Valentino Rossi - Image courtesy of Yamaha

Starting from eighth on the grid, Movistar Yamaha rider worked his way up to finish third at the finish and keep the championship points lead. "I wasn’t strong enough but at the end of the race I arrived on the podium after a great recovery and a hard race. I think we have to improve, especially with Jorge being very strong, he is in a great shape and to match his level we need to be more competitive."

2015 Mugello MotoGP - Dani Pedrosa - Image courtesy of Honda

Still recovering from arm pump surgery earlier in the year, Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa finished fourth at Mugello on the RC213V. "I'm happy overall, especially because my forearm is getting better all the time. Today I had a fairly good race, right through to the end. I was able to fight with some other riders and confirm that every week I'm getting better."

2015 Mugello MotoGP - Bradley Smith - Image courtesy of Tech3

Starting the race from 11th on the grid, Bradley Smith ended up fifth in the race on the Tech3 Yamaha YZR-M1. "I’m really pleased to close this weekend with a 5th place finish after a superb race that was a real pleasure to ride! Although my qualifying position was not fantastic, it spurred me on to get a good start, which is exactly what I did and then to come home with 5th is great for me, the team and the championship standings."

2015 Mugello MotoGP - Pol Espargaro - Image courtesy of Tech3

Tech3 rider Pol Espargaro finished in sixth in the race on his Yamaha YZR-M1, and continues to recover from earlier arm pump surgery. "After the recent surgery and two weeks without training, this was the optimum that we could obtain, even though it is not an incredible result, as we are behind our team mate."

2015 Mugello MotoGP - Michele Pirro - Image courtesy of Ducati

Ducati test rider Michele Pirro made his first wild-card appearance of the season, qualifying on the second row and finishing eighth in the race. "it was a really emotional weekend: I was fourth yesterday morning, I was on the second row of the grid with sixth quickest time, and in the end I finished in eighth place. My aim was to finish less than 30 seconds down on the winner and I managed to do so, so I’d like to thank Ducati, the guys in the test team and everyone working back in the factory."

2015 Mugello MotoGP - Maverick Vinales - Image courtesy of Suzuki

Maverick Vinales finished in seventh on the Suzuki GSX-RR, his best result so far in MotoGP. "I’m happy not only for the race but also for the entire weekend: I entered Q2 immediately and I constantly improved my feeling and therefore my lap-times. For sure we have found a much better set-up which can give me more confidence and therefore making me faster. The race was pretty tough because I had to pass the middle pack of riders, since we have a certain lack-of-power I need to overtake in the handling part of the track where we are strong, so I need some laps to study my opponent and find the best place where to attempt to overtake. "

2015 Mugello MotoGP - Marc Marquez - Image courtesy of Honda

A rough weekend for Marc Marquez saw the defending MotoGP champion qualify on the third row. Still, he was fourth after the first lap, and battled with Andrea Dovizioso, Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Iannone for second place for much of the race before crashing out on lap 18. "It was a shame about the crash today, because I had already done the hardest part! I'm happy because I was able to carry out our plan, which was to try to recover positions on the first five laps. We were up into second place after four laps, but when the tyre grip went down we had a similar problem to before, with the tyre sliding on corner entry. I was on the limit and when you are pushing at the maximum sometimes things happen like they did today."

2015 Mugello MotoGP - Andrea Dovizioso - Image courtesy of Ducati

After qualifying on the front row, Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso was running in second place early in the race but was forced to slow and eventually retire when his rear sprocket failed. "It was a real pity, because I reckon I could have fought for the podium, and seeing as we were at Mugello, I was really banking on doing so. But above all I didn’t score any points for the championship, which for me is the most important thing.”

2015 Mugello MotoGP - Aleix Espargaro - Image courtesy of Suzuki

Still recovering from a hand injury suffered at Le Mans, Aleix Espargaro struggled much of the weekend. In the race at Mugello, he got tangled up with another rider and crashed out. “There is nothing good to say: it was the very beginning of the race when I got hit. It's a pity, Petrucci made a mistake and prevented me to continue my race. I struggled with pain for the whole weekend but we found a good set-up."

This year's MotoGP event at Mugello, Italy provided plenty of excitement all weekend and throughout the field. Scroll through the image gallery above to see our 12 favorite action shots from the race, along with details and quotes from the riders.

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