Teknowarta — SpeedRS Team rider Celestino Vietti delivered a stunning performance, clocking the fastest time during the Moto2 Italian Grand Prix 2026 practice session at the iconic Mugello Circuit on Friday, May 29, 2026. The home favorite posted an impressive 1 minute 49.420 seconds, narrowly edging out Izan Guevara to secure the top spot and stake an early claim for a strong showing in qualifying.
Vietti’s blistering pace captivated spectators from the very start of the practice session. The Italian rider demonstrated exceptional consistency as track conditions improved, maintaining his formidable lap times right until the session’s conclusion. This early dominance has certainly set the tone for what promises to be an exhilarating weekend.
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Why Celestino Vietti is the Focus at Mugello
Celestino Vietti commanded attention on home turf, not only by setting the fastest lap of 1 minute 49.420 seconds but also by being the sole rider in the Moto2 Italian Grand Prix 2026 practice session to maintain a consistently stable rhythm throughout. His ability to hold such a steady pace underscores his mastery of the challenging Mugello circuit.
While Vietti’s lead wasn’t expansive, the mere 0.011-second gap over Izan Guevara highlights the incredibly fierce competition defining the Moto2 season. Guevara, riding for BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha, was also highly competitive early on, briefly leading the timesheets himself before Vietti ultimately surpassed him in the closing minutes of practice.
Further down the grid, Manuel Gonzalez of Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP secured a commendable third position. The Spanish rider, trailing Vietti by just 0.11 seconds, has firmly established himself as a formidable contender for pole position in Saturday’s qualifying session.
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Who Automatically Qualified for Q2?
A total of 14 riders successfully sealed their direct tickets to the crucial Q2 session of the Moto2 Italian Grand Prix 2026. Beyond Vietti, Guevara, and Gonzalez, the top four also included Filip Salac from OnlyFans American Racing, demonstrating the diverse talent pool.
Alonso Lopez, representing Italjet Gresini, completed the top five, finishing 0.338 seconds behind Vietti. Lopez appeared particularly comfortable navigating Mugello’s renowned fast and highly technical sectors, a skill that will be vital as the weekend progresses.
A notable surprise came from Alex Escrig, who propelled his Forward-backed machine into an impressive sixth place. This strong showing provides a significant boost for the Klint Racing Team as they prepare for the demanding qualifying session set for Saturday evening WIB.
The younger generation also made their mark, with talents like David Alonso, Ivan Ortola, and Collin Veijer successfully securing their spots in Q2. This strong influx of competitive young riders promises to make the intermediate class battle even more thrilling this season.
Rounding out the automatic Q2 qualifiers was Joe Roberts, the American rider, who narrowly outpaced Daniel Holgado, consigning him to battle through Q1.
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Aron Canet and Tony Arbolino Trapped in Q1
The Moto2 Italian Grand Prix 2026 practice session also produced some significant surprises, as several top names, including Aron Canet and Tony Arbolino, unexpectedly failed to break into the crucial top 14.
Canet, representing Elf Marc VDS Racing, could only manage an 18th-place finish, more than a second adrift of Vietti’s leading time. He visibly struggled to find his optimal rhythm, particularly in the challenging final sector of Mugello.
Equally unfortunate was the fate of Tony Arbolino, who had previously shown rapid pace in FP1. The Reds Fantic Racing rider found himself relegated to 23rd, with a substantial gap of 1.518 seconds to the leader, marking a sharp contrast to his earlier performance.
Adding to the list of notable riders heading to Q1 is Red Bull KTM Ajo’s young talent, Jose Antonio Rueda. With many prominent names yet to secure a safe passage, the first qualifying session is anticipated to be a fiercely contested affair.
Taiyo Furusato from Idemitsu Honda Team Asia also missed out on direct Q2 qualification, finishing 25th. He will undoubtedly need to dig deep and work hard on Saturday to advance.
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The Full MotoGP Italian 2026 Schedule: A Long Weekend Ahead
The MotoGP Italian Grand Prix 2026 at Mugello still has a packed schedule of vital sessions throughout the weekend. On Saturday, May 30, 2026, Moto2 riders will commence Free Practice 2 at 14:25 WIB, before heading into the high-stakes qualifying sessions starting from 18:40 WIB.
The main Moto2 Italian Grand Prix 2026 race is slated for Sunday, May 31, 2026, at 17:15 WIB. This 19-lap race is expected to be incredibly close, given the tight margins and similar pace demonstrated by many riders since the initial practice sessions.
Indeed, the MotoGP Italian Grand Prix 2026 stands as one of the most eagerly awaited rounds of the season. The electrifying atmosphere of Mugello, consistently filled with passionate “tifosi,” inevitably amplifies the pressure on the home riders, making it a uniquely challenging and rewarding event.
With such intensely competitive practice results, the battle for pole position in the Moto2 Italian Grand Prix 2026 remains wide open. Nevertheless, Celestino Vietti’s rapid and consistent performance positions the Italian rider as a strong favorite for success this weekend.
Summary
Celestino Vietti of the SpeedRS team