MotoGP – GP of San Marino: circuit, lap times, prize list, stakes

A week after the Catalunya Grand Prix, the MotoGP fleet has just crossed the Mediterranean to stop at Misano, the scene of the San Marino GP.

Circuit

Nestled in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, the Misano circuit, originally called Circuito Internazionale Santamonica, has been renamed Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli to pay tribute to the Italian driver who tragically died in the race on October 23, 2011 during the Malaysian Grand Prix . Having hosted the Italian GP until 1993, the Misano route returned to the calendar in 2007 under the San Marino GP label, in an inverted version. Since its debut in the world championship in 1972, it has been gradually modernized and its development has been increased, from the original 3.488 km to more than 4 kilometres. Now it claims 4.226 km for a total of 16 turns, 10 right and 6 left. Note that the longest straight line does not exceed 530 meters. 27 laps are on the program of the MotoGP race for a total distance of 114.10 km.

Chronos

The Ducati riders share the best chronometric references at Misano. Last year, pole position was achieved by Jack Miller in 1:31.899. However, the circuit record is to be attributed to Francesco Bagnaia, in 2021, with a time of 1:31.065. As for the fastest lap in the race, it was set during the 2022 edition by Enea Bastianini in 1:31.868. As for the top speed record, in 2021, it is also the property of a Ducati pilot, in the person of Johann Zarco, with 305 km / h.

Awards

Has the Italian Misano circuit often succeeded with local drivers? Since its return to the calendar in 2007 as the San Marino Grand Prix, indeed, several transalpine representatives have triumphed there. In this case, four of them: Valentino Rossi (2008, 2009, 2014), Andrea Dovizioso (2018), Franco Morbidelli (2020) and Francesco Bagnaia (2021, 2022). However, over the same period, the Spaniards total more victories (10 to 7). There are 4 for Marc Marquez (2015, 2017, 2019, 2021), 3 for Jorge Lorenzo (2011 to 2013), 2 for Dani Pedrosa (2010, 2016) and one for Jorge Lorenzo (2020). Note that there were two rounds at Misano in 2020 and 2021, in times of health crisis. Finally, the only one to have broken the Italo-Spanish hegemony is the Australian Casey Stoner, winner of the 2007 edition.

Challenges

Last Sunday in Barcelona, ​​the fight for the title almost took a dramatic turn following the spectacular fall of Francesco Bagnaia. Hit on the ground by Brad Binder, the championship leader was lucky to escape without serious injury. This allowed him, this Thursday, to obtain the medical green light to be able to compete in the San Marino Grand Prix. Otherwise, the defense of his title would have taken the lead in the wing, if he had to miss one or even several GPs. Arriving in Misano, the Italian remains leader of the general classification, but his lead over the Spaniard Jorge Martin is somewhat reduced, at 50 points. In ambush, Marco Bezzecchi, 71 units from the leader, will also be keen to shine at home, for him too to recover from a fall suffered last Sunday, caught in the crash of the first corner caused by Enea Bastianini, package at Misano and for the next two meetings.

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