Bezzecchi on pole as Aprilia sweeps Italian GP front row

Marco Bezzecchi will start from pole position for the Italian Grand Prix after leading an Aprilia sweep of the front row in qualifying at the Mugello circuit. The Italian set a new all-time lap record of 1:43.921, becoming the first rider to break the 1:44 barrier at the track. He will be joined on the front row by Trackhouse Aprilia rider Raúl Fernández and factory Aprilia teammate Jorge Martín.

Fernández secured his front-row start after advancing from the earlier Q1 session. Martín, who had set a new official MotoGP top speed record of 368.6 km/h during a practice session earlier on Saturday, completed the top three. The result marks a significant turnaround for Aprilia, which placed no riders on the front row during Friday's practice sessions dominated by Ducati.

Reigning world champion Marc Márquez was the fastest Ducati rider, qualifying fourth on his return from injury. He will head an all-Ducati second row, with Fermín Aldeguer in fifth and Francesco Bagnaia in sixth. Márquez appeared to be on a competitive lap but lost considerable time in the third sector.

Friday's practice leader, Fabio Di Giannantonio, could only manage seventh on the grid. He was reportedly limited...