A 78th MotoGP victory, following a Lap 1 crash for the Aprilia star, saw the reigning Champion jump level on points with Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing #89) as the sun set on a seismic San Marino GP. Report: BikeReview/MotoGP Press

Friday Practice and Saturday Qualifying
MotoGP

The #72 vs. #93 show got underway at Misano for a second season in succession, and whilst both enjoyed time at the top on Friday, it was Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing #72) who came out ahead of Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team #93). Within striking distance of the lap record and retaliating from the reigning World Champion’s P1 in FP1, ‘Bez’ had the high ground going into Saturday whilst it was Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP #73) in P3.

Read our previous MotoGP reports here…

Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) was the proud owner of a shiny new lap record at Misano, taking pole in some style with the first ever 1:29 lap time of the track. His 1:29.982 put him just under two tenths clear of key rival Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team), with Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP #54) completing the front row.

Moto2

Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP #81) laid down a new Moto2 all-time lap record at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli to front the times heading into the weekend, as the Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP squad celebrated a perfect start to the San Marino GP. Why? Because World Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez was a close P2; 0.120s was the deficit to his teammate’s 1:34.142, while David Alonso (CFMOTO Aspar European Privilege Team #80) rounded out a top three covered by 0.133s.

A 1:33.718 around Misano on a Moto2 bike? A ridiculously impressive lap from Senna Agius saw the Australian clinch a second pole position of the season, his first since the season opener in Thailand, and it was by a very healthy margin too. Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Aspar European Privilege Team #96) was on provisional pole in the closing stages before Agius beat the #96’s time by 0.193s, as rookie Angel Piqueras (QJMOTOR – Green Power – MSI #36) earned a front-row start at the scene of his debut Grand Prix victory in 2024 in a Q2 session that threw up some drama.

Moto3

David Almansa (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP #22) showcased his dominance by posting a 1:41.069 on his opening run, a time that would have topped the session on its own, before improving to 1:40.912 and then 1:40.767 on his second outing to become the only rider to break into the 1:40s. Joel Kelso (GRYD Racing #66) followed in second, while Quiles marked his return to action by securing third.

Saturday
Tissot Sprint

Saturday morning’s joust went to Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) after the Italian clinched a wonderful pole at Misano, but the Tissot Sprint honours swung back into the hands of Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) as the reigning World Champion fended off the home hero to collect a sixth gold medal of the season and claw more crucial championship points back on bronze medal finisher Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) on a tense afternoon at the Red Bull Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera.

Slotting into maximum attack mode from lights out, Marc Marquez gobbled up the holeshot into Turn 1 and resisted Bezzecchi’s early pressure to lead across the line at the end of Lap 1. It was a good start behind from ‘Diggia’ and also from Championship leader Martin, who was up to P4. Just like in 2025, though, it was personal-best lap after lap between Marquez and Bezzecchi, but the reigning World Champion had started to eke out his advantage over the home hero.

At the start of Lap 3, front-row starter Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) got his elbows out good and proper with one of his main rivals Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing #37), with both of them swapping paint from Turn 2 to Turn 6 and then again up at Turn 10. Aldeguer paid the price, losing spots to teammate Alex Marquez, Acosta and Raul Fernandez (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team #25) in the process.

Into the second half of the Sprint, a 1:30.763s from Marquez saw him with a 1.1s lead over Bezzecchi, who, despite setting a 1:30.846 on Lap 6, still didn’t have an answer to the #93. Behind and doing his best to limit damage to his Championship lead, Martin was now in third, but up ahead with 5 to go, Bezzecchi had got the gap down to half a second and was still in the 1:30s whilst Marquez had dropped to the 1:31s. A lap later, and the #93 was back in the 1:30s but still, the gap hovered at half a second.

Two to go and the fastest lap of the Sprint and a new race lap record from Marquez as he finally broke free out of Bezzecchi’s mid-Sprint clutches. Making up for his Sprint error last year, it was a lights-to-flag victory for Marc Marquez to edge closer to the Championship lead whilst Bezzecchi took P2, his first top two finish in a Sprint all season. Two Aprilias on the rostrum with Martin in P3, 2.4s back of his teammate. Less than half a second back from the podium, Di Giannantonio was in fourth whilst Alex Marquez rounded out the top five.

“The first laps were a bit dangerous, but then I tried to push, and I saw that I opened a gap. I tried to relax a bit, and I saw Marco was coming back, and then I attacked the last laps because the pace was there,” Marquez said.

Tissot Sprint Race Results

  1. Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo
  2. Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing (+1.068s)
  3. Jorge Martin Aprilia Racing (+3.538s)
  4. Fabio Di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+3.968s)
  5. Alex Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati (+4.348s)

Sunday
MotoGP

Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) completed a remarkable turnaround at the San Marino Grand Prix, claiming his 78th MotoGP victory and moving to the top of the World Championship standings for the first time this season.

The race was turned on its head on the opening lap when Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing), who had successfully defended the lead from Marc Marquez into Turn 1, crashed at Turn 13. The Italian’s early exit handed a golden opportunity to Marc Marquez, who inherited the lead ahead of Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing). With Bezzecchi out, Marc Marquez controlled the early stages while Martin remained within striking distance. Behind them, Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) worked his way through the field after starting ninth, eventually clearing Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and setting his sights on the leaders.

Martin briefly gave Aprilia hope on Lap 7 when he passed Marc Marquez at Turn 4 to take the lead. However, the reigning World Champion remained patient and responded decisively five laps later, reclaiming first position at Turn 6 on Lap 12. That move proved pivotal. Marc Marquez immediately began stretching his advantage while the battle behind intensified. Alex Marquez passed Martin for second on Lap 14 before Acosta followed through two laps later, dropping the former championship leader out of the podium places.

The pressure continued to mount on Martin as Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) also found a way through, relegating the Aprilia rider to fifth and significantly damaging his championship hopes. At the front, Marc Marquez looked in complete control, but Alex Marquez refused to give up. The younger Marquez gradually chipped away at the gap in the closing laps, reducing the deficit to around half a second. Despite the late charge, Marc Marquez remained composed to seal a hugely significant victory.

Alex Marquez’s runner-up finish was an outstanding result after a difficult season disrupted by injury, while Acosta delivered another spectacular ride to secure third place and his fifth podium of the campaign. Aldeguer impressed with fourth after overcoming his own injury setbacks earlier in the year, while Martin crossed the line in fifth. Although the result avoided complete disaster, it represented a major missed opportunity in the title fight.

The outcome leaves Marc Marquez and Martin level on points heading into the Austrian Grand Prix, but the momentum has swung firmly in the reigning champion’s favour. After appearing out of contention just a few rounds ago, Marc Marquez is back on top of the MotoGP world.

“It feels unreal. Never give up, and I will push until the end. It’s not over, but we are there in the championship fighting against very good riders, especially Martin and ‘Bez’ [Bezzecchi]. We are riding on the limit, and a small mistake can cost a lot of points,” Marquez stated.

MotoGP Race Results

  1. Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo
  2. Alex Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati (+0.657s)
  3. Pedro Acosta Red Bull KTM (+2.326s)
  4. Fermin Aldeguer BK8 Gresini Ducati (+6.027s)
  5. Jorge Martin Aprilia Racing (+14.021s)

Check out the full MotoGP race results here…

MotoGP Championship Points

  1. Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo – 274
  2. Jorge Martin Aprilia Racing – 274
  3. Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing – 241
  4. Pedro Acosta Red Bull KTM – 223
  5. Ai Ogura Trackhouse Aprilia – 209

Moto2

Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP #18) delivered a championship-defining victory at Misano, capitalising on a first-lap crash that eliminated key title rivals before controlling the race to claim his first win since Hungary and strengthen his grip on the Moto2 title fight.

The Moto2 Grand Prix was thrown into chaos almost immediately when the entire front row crashed at Turn 1. Pole sitter Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP), Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Aspar European Privilege Team) and Angel Piqueras (QJMOTOR – Green Power – MSI) all went down after Piqueras misjudged his braking and tagged Holgado, collecting Agius in the process. While all three riders escaped injury, the incident dealt a major blow to the title ambitions of Agius and Holgado.

With the front row contenders eliminated, Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo #95) inherited the lead ahead of championship leader Gonzalez, while Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – Green Power – MSI #4) ran third. Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 #28) also began carving through the field after starting 14th following a six-place grid penalty. Gonzalez made his move for the lead on Lap 5, diving past Veijer at Turn 8 and immediately settling into a strong rhythm at the front. Behind him, Barry Baltus (REDS Fantic Racing #7) joined the podium fight, overtaking Ortola to move into third while keeping the leaders within reach.

Baltus looked comfortable until Lap 13, when he was handed a Long Lap penalty for track limits infringements. The Belgian served it three laps later but impressively managed to retain third position, though pressure mounted from Ortola, Guevara, Alonso Lopez (ITALJET Gresini Moto2 #21), Tony Arbolino (REDS Fantic Racing #14) and Celestino Vietti (Beta Tools SpeedRS Team #13).

At the front, the battle eventually became a two-rider contest between Gonzalez and Veijer. Despite receiving a track limits warning, Gonzalez maintained a steady advantage and gradually broke clear. With three laps remaining, his lead stood at 1.6 seconds, and there was no catching the Spaniard from there.

Gonzalez crossed the line 2.4 seconds clear of Veijer to secure a hugely significant victory in the championship race. Veijer celebrated his first podium since Jerez with second place, while Baltus held firm for third despite his penalty, earning his first podium since the 2025 Malaysian Grand Prix.

Ortola claimed fourth, while Arbolino produced an excellent recovery from 16th on the grid to finish fifth. Guevara fought from 14th to sixth, but valuable championship points slipped away on a day when Gonzalez made a major statement in the title battle.

Moto2 Race Results

  1. Manuel Gonzalez LIQUI MOLY
  2. Collin Veijer Red Bull KTM Ajo (+2.451s)
  3. Barry Baltus REDS Fantic Racing (+4.692s)
  4. Ivan Ortola QJMOTOR – Green Power -MSI (+5.785s)
  5. Tony Arbolino REDS Fantic Racing (+6.068s)

Moto2 Championship Points

  1. Manuel Gonzalez Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 232.5
  2. Izan Guevara BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 – 185
  3. Ivan Ortola QJMOTOR – Biolec – MSI – 157.5
  4. Senna Agius LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP – 149
  5. Daniel Holgado CFMOTO Azul Marino Aspar Team – 139

Moto3

Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) snatched a dramatic Moto3 victory at Misano, denying David Almansa (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP #22) on the run to the finish line by just 0.021s to claim back to back wins and extend his championship advantage beyond 100 points.

Almansa converted pole position into the race lead and controlled proceedings from the opening lap, leading ahead of Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo #51) and Quiles. Early drama saw Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo #83) crash on the opening lap after starting 21st due to penalties, while Nicola Carraro (Rivacold Snipers Team #10) and Leo Rammerstorfer (SIC58 Squadra Corse #5) also exited the race after separate incidents.

As the race settled, Almansa established himself at the front, but Quiles steadily worked his way through the field. After passing Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3 #73) for third, the championship leader overtook Uriarte on Lap 5 to move into second and begin hunting down the race leader.

Behind the leading trio, Joel Kelso (GRYD Racing), Matteo Bertelle (LEVELUP-MTA #18), Rico Salmela (Red Bull KTM Tech3 #27) and Perrone were engaged in a fierce battle for the remaining top positions. Kelso briefly held fourth before a mistake dropped him down the order, while Bertelle and Salmela also exchanged positions as the race entered its second half.

At the front, the contest evolved into a three-rider fight between Almansa, Quiles and Uriarte. Quiles repeatedly showed strong pace, setting the fastest lap of the Grand Prix and applying relentless pressure to Almansa. Despite several attempts, he could not find a way through as the laps ticked down.

The showdown everyone anticipated arrived on the final lap. Almansa defended superbly through Turns 1, 4 and 8 and continued to cover every overtaking opportunity. However, a defensive final sector compromised his drive onto the main straight, opening the door for Quiles.

Having not led a single lap all race, Quiles timed his run perfectly and powered past Almansa in the final metres to win by just 0.021 seconds in one of the closest finishes of the season. It was a heartbreaking result for Almansa, who had led every lap and corner of the Grand Prix only to lose victory at the line.

Uriarte completed the podium in third, securing the fourth rostrum finish of his rookie campaign, while Quiles strengthened his grip on the Moto3 championship with another stunning victory.

Moto3 Race Results

  1. Maximo Quiles CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team
  2. David Almansa Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (+0.021s)
  3. Brian Uriarte Red Bull KTM Ajo (+1.343s)
  4. Matteo Bertelle LEVEL UP – MTA (+12.219s)
  5. Valentin Perrone Red Bull KTM Tech3 (+12.258s)

Moto3 Championship Points

  1. Maximo Quiles CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team – 281
  2. David Almansa Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 174
  3. Alvaro Carpe Red Bull KTM Ajo – 159
  4. Brian Uriarte Red Bull KTM Ajo – 154
  5. Marco Morelli CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team – 138

How Did the Aussies Do?

Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP #43) showed improved pace and confidence at Misano, battling closely with teammate Toprak Razgatlıoglu throughout the Sprint before being classified 17th after a post-race penalty altered the final order. Miller’s main race came to an early end when he crashed out on lap two, denying the Australian the chance to build on the strong pace he’d displayed during the morning warm-up.

Pic: Intact GP

Senna Agius delivered a qualifying masterclass at Misano, storming to a brilliant pole position to secure his second Moto2 pole of the season. Sadly, his hopes of converting pole position into a strong result were dashed at Turn 1 when he was caught in a three-rider incident that brought his race to an immediate end.

Having started the weekend with a brilliant P2 on Friday and third in qualifying, things were looking excellent for Joel Kelso to have a quality race. And he enjoyed a solid bout at the office to claim a solid seventh at Misano, as he displayed admirable pace throughout to end the weekend positively.

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