The San Marino Grand Prix in Misano began with tension even before the lights went out. Reigning world champion Jorge Martin’s Aprilia stalled on the grid, forcing him to start from pit lane and serve a double long lap penalty.
Explosive Start
At the launch, Marco Bezzecchi defended his pole position with a perfect getaway, while Marc Márquez quickly swept past his brother Álex into second place. Behind the leaders, chaos struck as Johann Zarco and Joan Mir collided and crashed out on the opening lap.
Early Battles and Setbacks
A leading trio soon emerged, with Bezzecchi and the Marquez brothers setting a strong pace. Pedro Acosta surged into the top four, but his promising run ended abruptly on lap 8 with a broken chain. Francesco Bagnaia’s struggles continued as he crashed just one lap later, ending a disastrous weekend. Misano also claimed victims in Enea Bastianini and Alex Rins, both forced to retire after falls.
Marquez Seizes Control
The key moment came on lap 12 when Bezzecchi ran wide at Turn 8, gifting Marc Márquez the lead. From that point, the Spaniard dictated the rhythm, but Bezzecchi clung to his rear wheel. Both riders pushed the limits, literally, with track limits warnings adding to the tension. Álex Marquez, meanwhile, slipped back into a secure third place.
Final Showdown
In the closing laps, Bezzecchi unleashed a series of fastest times, briefly closing the gap to within three tenths. Márquez responded with his own record pace on lap 26 of 27, breaking the Italian’s resistance. At the flag, Marc claimed victory by a narrow margin, with Bezzecchi second and Álex Marquez completing the podium.
The Rest of the Field
Franco Morbidelli impressed with a strong fourth place, while Fabio Di Giannantonio rounded out the top five. Fabio Quartararo started well but faded to eighth after being overtaken by Morbidelli, Di Giannantonio, Fermin Aldeguer, and Luca Marini. Still, he salvaged the honor of being the top Yamaha rider.
A Statement Win
For Marc Márquez, Misano marked more than just his 6th victory on this circuit: it was a statement. After the Sprint crash, the Spaniard proved his strength and precision, showing once again why he remains one of the sport’s all-time greats.