Diogo Moreira delivered one of his strongest performances of the season in Saturday's Sprint race at Mugello, while Cal Crutchlow continued his return to MotoGP action by completing the race and gathering valuable data for the team.
Key Points
- Moreira qualified eighth and started the Sprint from the third row.
- The Brazilian briefly fought inside the podium positions before finishing 10th.
- Crutchlow completed his MotoGP Sprint return and finished 19th.
- Both riders highlighted the team's steady progress heading into Sunday's race.
Moreira Shows Front-Running Pace
After impressing in qualifying by securing eighth on the grid, the Pro Honda LCR rider lined up on the third row for the Sprint and wasted no time making his presence felt.
The Brazilian enjoyed a superb start, quickly moving into the podium positions and engaging in battles with several rivals during the opening stages. Moreira showcased strong pace throughout the race, although tyre degradation later affected his charge.
Despite the challenge, the 21-year-old fought to the finish and crossed the line in 10th place, underlining the progress he and the team have made in recent rounds and providing encouragement ahead of Sunday's Grand Prix.
"I had fun today and really enjoyed the Sprint. The final result was not what we wanted, but I struggled with tyre wear and just tried to do my best until the end. We are working really well and improving race after race, which is the most important thing. We are on the right path."
Crutchlow Builds Momentum on Return
Meanwhile, Castrol Honda LCR stand-in rider Cal Crutchlow completed his first Sprint race since returning to MotoGP action at Mugello.
Starting from 22nd on the grid, the experienced Briton made a solid launch and remained with the pack, maintaining a consistent pace throughout the race. While adapting back to the demands of a full Grand Prix weekend, Crutchlow admitted he faced difficulties in the circuit's rapid direction changes and felt the physical strain of racing at Mugello.
Nevertheless, the three-time MotoGP race winner reached the chequered flag in 19th place and continued to provide important feedback as Honda works to improve its package.
"I had a lot of fun today. We did our job, which was to ride the bike, complete the Sprint, and provide valuable feedback to the team. I struggled physically because this is a demanding track, and I'm not fully accustomed to the racing pace and intensity of the regular riders. In any case, we've been improving session after session, which was one of our goals as well. Let's see what tomorrow brings."
