MotoGP Mugello 2024: everything you need to know

From 31 May to 2 June, days of racing and qualifying, but also DJ sets and aperitifs at Italy's most famous circuit

The tricolour flags, along with those of the teams and riders, return to the Mugello circuit for the Italian MotoGP Grand Prix on 2 June, preceded as usual by 48 hours of testing and qualifying.

At Mugello, one of MotoGP's best-loved and most demanding tracks, tradition goes hand in hand with technology: on the one hand the history of the circuit, on the other the commitment of the teams to strive for bike perfection. A mix that has been going on for 48 years, many in fact have passed since the first edition of the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello in 1976, and it is since 1994 that the Tuscan circuit has become the fixed venue for the Italian round of MotoGP.

The track is famous for its long straight, 1,141 metres of speed and adrenalin that put engine and brakes to the test, with the track's 14 corners then testing the riders' qualities, for a total of 5 kilometres and 245 metres of physical endurance and skill.

MotoGP del Mugello (ph. Bernardo Baluganti)

The 23-lap race will offer spectators a whole sampling of 'virtuosity', from accelerating to 342 km/h to braking to 97 km/h in just 306 metres. This is also the reason why Mugello's roll of honour bears the most important names in the history of world motorcycling: Loris Capirossi, Max Biaggi, Valentino Rossi, Andrea Dovizioso and Danilo Petrucci are the riders who have raised the green-white-red flag on the highest flagpole, while today it is Pecco Bagnaia who is leading the Italian patrol.

Reigning world champion Pecco Bagnaia, championship leader Jorge Martin, Marc Marquez, Enea Bastinini, Marco Bezzecchi Maverick Vinales and Aleix Espargaro are the riders most eagerly awaited by the thousands of fans who will arrive at Mugello for the three days of sport and spectacle.

And for those who have the roar of engines in their blood, the Moto3, Moto2, MotoE and Red Bull Rookies Cup programme is no less impressive, with Scarperia rider Guido Pini racing on his home circuit.

Free practice gets underway on Friday 31st at 10.45am with the first 45-minute session: FP1 of the premier class will be preceded by FP1 of MotoE, Moto3 and Moto2. In the afternoon the second session from 3pm.

The MotoGP riders then return to action on Saturday 1 June at 10.10am, with half an hour of free practice to precede qualifying (Q1 at 10.50am, Q2 at 11.15am) before the 3pm Sprint Race with 11 laps at full speed. Saturday will also see FP3, Moto3 and Moto2 qualifying, the two MotoE races and Race 1 of the Red Bull Rookis Cup scheduled for 5pm.

MotoGP del Mugello

Sunday is the final and most eagerly awaited act. The warm-up is at 9.40am, preceded by race 2, at 8.45am, of the Red Bull Rookies Cup. At 11:00 the start of the Moto3 race and at 12:15 the start of the Moto2 race. The MotoGP Italian Grand Prix gets underway at 14:00.

All this as far as the purely technical and competitive aspect is concerned, but MotoGP means much more, and at Mugello even more. The smoke (now almost non-existent) given off by the exhausts and engines is nothing compared to the traditional barbecues that accompany and cheer the fans' anticipation on the hills surrounding the circuit: 100 hectares of parkland with areas equipped for camping and BBQs that guarantee fun regardless of what happens on the track.

Everyone, however, in the vicinity of their own grandstand: Ducati fans on one side, KTM fans on the other, the fan clubs of the various riders, from Morbidelli to Pirro and local rider Pini to complete the colourful picture.

To complete the party on Friday evening and Saturday evening music and djset on the Correntaio stage, Saturday morning at 11.45 the Heroe's Walk, repeated on Sunday at 10.20 and followed by the Rider's Fan Parade on the track.

At the end of the last lap of the MotoGP race the classic track invasion, with fans able to reach the foot of the podium to greet their favourites.