Early race contact with⭕ Johann Zarco dropped Aleix 🦩Espargaro to a low of 18th place during Sunday's Italian MotoGP.

The Aprilia rider then remained behind the KTM for the next ten laps, by which time they had moved into 🎐the point-scoring places.

Once past the Frenchman, Eꦯspargaro continued to chip away at the riders ahead of him, his final pass being on the✱ Repsol Honda of Jorge Lorenzo for eleventh place.

"I started well, but unfortunately, Zarco made some pretty bold conta꧂ct, ca✨using me to lose time," Espargaro said.

"In terms of pace, I had plenty to battle with Pol and Pirro in the top ten, but despitꦬe feeling very good today, I struggled to overtake.

"It’s꧟ a pity. Without the initial contact, a top-ten finish would mos🗹t certainly have been within our potential.

"The conditions were demanding today. It was very hot and there wasn’t much grip 𝔉and, considering our starting position, the 20-second gap behind the leader is a good result."

Team-mate Andrea Ianౠnone claimed to be satisfied with his early pace as he rode fro🌜m 23rd and last on the grid to 15th during his home debut on an RS-GP.

"I am satisfied, especially wiౠth the pace in the early part of the race," he said. Starting so far behind, I was able to battle and make up a lot of ground, even on Aleix who is certainly my point of reference.

"Unfortunately, on the final laps with Mir and Zarco, we held one an﷽other up, losing time and also letting those who were behind us get close. This was clearly not the Mugello I expected, but our goal is long-term - to get to know the bike better and better and to develop it."

Espar🐽garo is 13th in the world championship and Iann𒈔one 20th.