2021 Italian MotoGP, Mugello - Live Friday updates!

Live updates from Friday's pair of MotoGP free practice sessions at Mugello!

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After last year's Covid absence, MotoGP makes a welcome return to the scenic Mugello circuit in Italy this weekend.

Sadly, there will be no fans lining the hillsides due to the ongoing pandemic restrictions, but riders will be hoping to serve up plenty of the usual slipstreaming action to keep fans glued to their TVs.

Ducati is chasing its fourth home victory in a row, with Jerez and Le Mans winner Jack Miller, second in the championship Francesco Bagnaia and Pramac podium finisher Johann Zarco seeking to join Danilo Petrucci, Jorge Lorenzo, Andrea Dovizioso and Casey Stoner in winning the Italian Grand Prix on a Desmosedici.

But prior to Ducati's recent victory run, Lorenzo and Yamaha took victory in five of the previous Mugello races and the likes of title leader Fabio Quartararo and Monster Yamaha team-mate Maverick Vinales will be out to spoil the home party.

Suzuki's Joan Mir and Aprilia's Aleix Espargaro – sixth and seventh in the world championship - will be looking to bounce back from their first DNFs of the season at Le Mans, with Espargaro also riding for the first time since arm pump surgery at the RS-GP's home event.

Marc Marquez was also a non-finisher in Le Mans, for the first time since his comeback from injury, falling twice.

The Repsol Honda rider holds both the pole position and race lap records at Mugello and joins home hero Valentino Rossi as the only riders on the current premier-class grid to have won at Mugello on anything but a Ducati.

While an eight Mugello win would be a big leap for Rossi at present, countryman and Petronas Yamaha team-mate Franco Morbidelli has proven podium form this season.

Mugello also traditionally boasts the fastest straight of the season, meaning this weekend also well see the official MotoGP top speed record of 362.4km/h (225.2mph) - set by Zarco in Qatar - broken…