Marco Bezzecchi scored his first grand prix win since March and stretched his MotoGP championship lead after winning the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello on Sunday.

On a spectacular weekend for Aprilia, Bezzecchi headed his factory team-mate Jorge Martin home, allowing the latter to entrench himself in second place in the championship standings.

Francesco Bagnaia's third place helped Ducati salvage some pride at a circuit on which it had dominated in recent years.

Bezzecchi made a far better job of the first corner than he had in the Saturday sprint, staying patient in the face of early resistance from Martin, who grabbed a brief lead. But Bezzecchi was back in front of his team-mate by the time they exited Borgo San Lorenzo on lap one.

MotoGP Italian GP: Raul Fernandez scores first sprint win in Aprilia 1-2

Sprint winner Raul Fernandez was already out of contention by this stage, having wildly outbraked himself at the first corner following a good start from the front row. The Trackhouse man was well outside the top 10 by the time he picked up the pieces.

On lap two, Bagnaia took second from Martin. Then, a lap later, the factory Ducati went past the factory Aprilia of Bezzecchi, raising memories of many of a previous Mugello triumph for the two-time world champion.

Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing

Bezzecchi, however, was simply playing a patient game, taking good care of his tyres as he sought to get back on the grand prix winning trail for the first time since Austin in March. Martin proved to be no major threat, remaining a safe distance behind in third as Bezzechi hung on to Bagnaia's rear tyre.

On lap 14 of 23, Bezzecchi took advantage of a superb final sector on the previous lap and a subsequent 6km/h edge through the speed trap to simply drive past Bagnaia. He pulled away immediately, and when Martin swept through on Bagnaia two laps later, it became clear that the factory Ducati was beginning a serious battle for late-race pace.

That put him at the mercy of Ai Ogura, who was on one of his trademark charges. The Japanese Trackhouse Aprilia rider reeled him in quickly over the last two laps, nosing up his inside at the final corner of the race. But Ogura ran wide, and Bagnaia defied the odds to hang on up the hill to the finish line and claim a home podium.

Next up behind Ogura was Fabio Di Giannantonio, who had to recover from yet another dreadful start that dropped the VR46 Ducati rider outside of the top 10 on the first lap.

Both Ogura and Di Giannantonio's charges were helped by Marc Marquez's ability to bottle up some of the riders they needed to pass, most notably Pedro Acosta. The KTM tried all kinds of tricks to get past the cunning but injured champion, only to be repeatedly thwarted as Marquez stubbornly held on.

It was lap 16 before Acosta finally passed Marquez for good - but by then the pair had nothing for Ogura and Di Giannantonio. As Acosta and Marquez made do with sixth and seventh respectively, Fernandez had to settle for a disappointing eighth place. 

MotoGP Italian GP results

Photos from Italian GP - Sunday

Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing

Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pramac Racing

Fermin Aldeguer, Gresini Racing

Maverick Vinales, KTM Tech 3

Pedro Acosta, KTM Factory Racing

Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

Enea Bastianini, KTM Tech 3

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Raul Fernandez, Trackhouse Racing

Diogo Moreira, Team LCR Honda, Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Fermin Aldeguer, Gresini Racing

Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images

Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Formula 1 driver on the grid

Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images

Franco Morbidelli, VR46 Racing Team

Alex Rins, Yamaha Factory Racing

Fermin Aldeguer, Gresini Racing

Franco Morbidelli, VR46 Racing Team

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing

Fans

Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images

Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing

Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images

Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing

Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images

Diogo Moreira, Team LCR Honda

Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images

Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Team

Joan Mir, Honda HRC

Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images

Enea Bastianini, Red Bull KTM Tech 3

Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images

Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing, Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Team

Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team

Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing

Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team, Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images

Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing

Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing

Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images

Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing

Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing

Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images

Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing

Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images

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Both the world championship leader Marco Bezzecchi and Marquez' own team-mate, Francesco Bagnaia, have scoffed at Marc Marquez's claim to be below his best as he returns from a injury layoff at this weekend's Italian Grand Prix. 

Following a recent operation on his foot and shoulder, the reigning world champion played down his chances when speaking to media at Mugello on Thursday. But Marc has developed a reputation for not playing a straight hand when speaking about his injury status, and scepticism was not limited to the press corps following his latest comments.

Marquez' factory Ducati team-mate clearly did not expect the Spaniard to be riding cautiously around in the midfield this weekend.

"If he's back, it's because he feels that he can fight," said Bagnaia. "And it's difficult to think Mark [is] here just to take points. 

"I spoke with him this morning. He was feeling quite good. He's not worried about the foot. He's just worried about the arm, the shoulder. But I think it will be strong."

World championship leader Bezzecchi was equally convinced Marc would be back in every sense of the word.

"For sure he will be extra competitive," said the Aprilia rider, who is 85 points ahead of the lurking threat that is Marquez. "Because if he comes back, it means that he's ready. 

"Marc is very smart. So, he knows what to do. And apart from this, I think you can't rule out the current world champion from the title fight. So, for sure he will be there."

How Marc Marquez rates his own fitness ahead of Mugello comeback

Whether Marquez really believes he will not be at his best in Italy, is playing a psychological game or just being cautious with his statements, only he and those closest to him will know.

Timing and scoring will answer the most important questions once the action begins at Mugello today.

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