With the leaders in-line, over the line saw Lorenzo use the incredible speed of the Ducati to take the lead for the first time in red, dueling with old nemesis Rossi before the Italian took him back – and the next lap proved almost a replay as the two men who have dominated the sport this decade found themselves sharing the front of the race for the first time this season.

Then it was ‘Desmo Dovi’ on the move. He past his teammate after Viñales had gone through on Rossi, the Championship leader taking the ‘Doctor’ as the trio began to break away from Lorenzo – with Petrucci on the chase.

Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) had an incredible start from P16 after having suffered with illness throughout the weekend, moving up into seventh, as Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) suffered a different fate and got a ride through for a jump start.

Before long, Petrucci caught the group as Dovizioso took over at the front, and the Pramac rider then pounced on Viñales after a small mistake to follow ‘Desmo Dovi’. Then it was holding station as the gaps grew and then shrunk, before the factory Ducati in the lead gained a small gap  – and every member of the Borgo Panigale team held their breath as Viñales took over in second, only a few laps remaining and the Championship leader had his head down.

Closing in and then falling back, the pendulum swung between the two men until the last lap dawned – and ‘Desmo Dovi’ kept it inch-perfect around every corner to take his third ever Grand Prix victory, and the first for a red machine at Mugello since Casey Stoner won in 2009.