Misano crowns Marc Marquez and reshapes the world championship. The Spaniard completed a near-perfect weekend, winning the San Marino and Riviera di Rimini Grand Prix and, more importantly, drawing level with Jorge Martin at the top of the standings on 274 points.
For the home crowd, the big disappointment came just a few corners in. Marco Bezzecchi, who started from pole position, crashed between turns 12 and 13 before even completing the first lap. A costly mistake for the Aprilia rider, who came away empty-handed and now sits 33 points behind the two championship leaders.
The Italians’ Sunday got worse on the sixth lap, when Pecco Bagnaia also ended up in the gravel. Out front, meanwhile, Martin tried to rewrite the story of the race, passing Marquez at the Rio corner to take the lead — though his moment at the front was short-lived.
Marc retook the lead on lap eleven and from that point took full control of the race. Martin gradually lost ground and was overtaken first by Alex Marquez, then by Pedro Acosta, and finally by Fermin Aldeguer, eventually finishing only fifth.
It was an all-Spanish celebration on the podium: Marc Marquez first, Alex Marquez second and Acosta third. Particularly notable was the Gresini rider’s charge through the field, having started ninth on a Ducati carrying a livery dedicated to Marco Simoncelli.
Marquez thus banked 37 points over the Misano weekend, completing a remarkable comeback in the standings: his deficit to Martin, which had once topped 80 points, has now been completely wiped out. Ducati also reclaimed the lead in the constructors’ championship.
With both Bezzecchi and Bagnaia out of the race, Fabio Di Giannantonio was the top Italian finisher, ahead of Enea Bastianini and Luca Marini. MotoGP’s next stop will be the Red Bull Ring for the Austrian Grand Prix.
