Image: Supplied.

Reigning world champion Marc Marquez says Sunday’s 23-lap outing at Mugello was ‘time to defend’ as he endeavoured to claim victory against competitive Mission Winnow Ducati duo Danilo Petrucci and Andrea Dovizioso.

The Repsol Honda contender managed to navigate his way into the lead by the final lap in an absolute thriller, however a slight error from himself and Dovizioso saw Petrucci snatch control of the race to eventually secure his maiden MotoGP World Championship victory.

Marquez attempted to fight back with Dovizioso in tow, but couldn’t work his way by Petrucci and was forced to accept runner-up honours.

“Today was time to defend,” Marquez declared. “And we did it in the best way we could because usually this is not one of our best circuits. I stayed calm and waited to try something in the last lap.

“I was able to try but I missed the apex on the first corner and then both Ducati overtook me. Petrucci rode very well at the front today, congratulations to him. My goal was to finish in front of Dovizioso and Rins and we did this so I’m happy.”

The Spaniard holds down a 12-point advantage over Dovizioso in the championship rankings as the series heads to Catalunya in Spain on 16 June.