Jorge Martin won the MotoGP World Championship Tissot Sprint Race Saturday at Misano World Circuit – Marco Simoncelli, in San Marino. Riding his Prima Pramac Racing Ducati Desmosedici on Michelin control tires, the Spaniard won the 13-lap race by 1.495 seconds. It was Martin’s fifth Sprint Race win of the season, extending his lead in the World Championship point standings.

Two-time and defending World Champion Francesco Bagnaia was the runner-up on his Lenovo Ducati.

Martin’s teammate Franco Morbidelli was a close third.

Bagnaia’s teammate Enea Bastianini was equally close in fourth.

Six-time MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez finished fifth on his Gresini Racing Ducati.

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Martin denies Bagnaia on home turf as Morbidelli claims maiden Sprint podium

The Spaniard storms to Sprint glory to extend his lead to 26 points, escaping a last lap battle to complete the podium

Saturday, 07 September 2024

Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) extended his Championship lead in ‘enemy territory’ at the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini, initially chased by home hero and reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) before pulling away to take another stunning Tissot Sprint win. He’s now 26 points clear as Bagnaia was forced to settle for second, the reigning Champion in turn holding off late pressure from both Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) and Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team).

Bagnaia got a good start but Martin got a better one, with the #89 in a position to go for it and attack straight into Turn 1. He got the job done and got the hammer down immediately, with Bagnaia on the chase ahead of Morbidelli in third.

Behind, Bastianini made big gains from P8 to slot into fifth, shadowing Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and just ahead of Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3). The big loser off the start was Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) as he dropped to the back end of the top ten in the shuffle, ending up just behind Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) as the #93 also looked to move forward.

At the front, Martin pounded on but the gap was hovering around a handful of tenths, with Morbidelli still very much in touch too. Instead, the next move came from the second group as Bastianini went for an attack on Binder and took over in fourth, looking down the barrel of 1.7 seconds to the podium fight with nine laps to go.

Drama then hit for Bezzecchi after the tougher start, with the #72 sliding out of contention, rider perfectly ok but looking for a lot more on Sunday as he takes his second front row start of the weekend. His teammate, Fabio Di Giannantonio, also slid out of the Tissot Sprint early on, riders both ok.

Meanwhile, a Pierer Mobility duel was heating up in the fight for fifth, with Acosta homing in on and then slicing past Binder. Just ahead of them, Bastianini was absolutely caning it through the gap to the Morbidelli, who was dropping off the duel for the win too. The ‘Beast’ took half a second off the deficit to his compatriot in one lap. Simultaneously, Marquez was looking impatient behind Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and he struck with seven to go, next targets: Binder and Acosta. The #93 made a lunge at Binder and made it stick not long after, setting up a final push to get past Acosta.

The other final push was coming in from Bastianini – and Morbidelli. As Martin was able to just eke out an advantage at the top, Bagnaia was fading towards Morbidelli just as Bastianini was catching them both. The ‘Beast’ struck against the Pramac early on the last lap, getting past but sailing wide as Morbidelli cut back inside. They pounded on, gap between all three diminishing, with the #21 Pramac gaining on Bagnaia to set up a three-rider train in the final sector.

Meanwhile, Marquez vs Acosta lit up. The #93 shadowed the #31 and inched closer, finally screeching up the inside out of Curvone and holding onto it through T12, from there on out able to hold on to the line.

Behind Martin, who put in another stunning Tissot Sprint to extend his advantage to 26 points and ensure he leaves Misano as Championship leader, holding on to the line was also what it came down to for Bagnaia and Morbidelli. Each did to complete the Sprint podium, with Bastianini taking fourth.

Marc Marquez pickpocketed fifth with that last-lap move on Acosta, with Binder and Miller up next. The final Sprint point went to another impressive Saturday from Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), who managed to hold off Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™).

There’s more to come at Misano on Sunday, with the Sprint serving up a stunning appetizer. Over full Grand Prix distance, what does Martin have in the locker? Can Bagnaia fight back? Or are the likes of Morbidelli, Bastianini and Marquez ready to attack once again? Find out on Sunday as MotoGP™ heads back out to race at 14:00 (UTC+2)!

Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) has collaborated with MotoGP™24 videogame developer Milestone to create a unique fan competition, allowing fans to use the game’s helmet editor to design a lid for him to wear at Misano. The Spaniard is sporting the winning design – chosen by Top Gun himself – at the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini this weekend.

The idea showcases how gaming and real-world sports can come together, with the winning helmet design coming from a Brazilian player. It features a dynamic mix of colours as well as the face of a gorilla, a nod to one of Viñales’ special podium celebrations we’ve seen him do this year. The helmet will also be available in MotoGP™24, allowing players to race with the same look as Viñales in their virtual competitions.

Arbolino edges out Vietti for debut Moto2™ pole as Garcia goes from P24

Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) finally has a Moto2™ pole position to his name after the Italian pipped compatriot Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo) to Saturday’s honours in a tightly contested Q2. Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) joins the Italians on the front row in P3, that’s the Japanese rider’s third Q2 top three of the season – and a timely one at that. 

– And why is it timely? Well, it’s been another disappointing weekend so far for Championship leader Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) as the Spaniard is forced to settle for a P24 starting place for the San Marino GP. 

– Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) fronts the second row in P4, the #44 was a couple of tenths shy from pole and is joined on Row 2 by rookie Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) and Albert Arenas (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™). 

– Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) bagged P7 as Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) came through Q1 to start from P8, as title hopefuls Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) and Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) hope to climb the order on Sunday and collect valuable points from P10 and P14 respectively. 

Tune in for the Moto2™ race on Sunday at 12:15 (UTC +2) to see what title chase twists lay ahead at Misano!

Alonso lands late stunner to steal San Marino pole position

A late 1:40.505 stunner from David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) handed the World Championship leader a commanding sixth pole position of the season, as Italy’s Luca Lunetta claimed his best Saturday result of the season in P2 at SIC58 Squadra Corse’s home race. Fourth tenths was the gap between the top two on the grid, as title hopeful Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) picked up a P3 starting slot for Sunday’s race. 

– Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing) secured P4, but the rookie is set to take a double Long Lap penalty on Sunday after he was adjudged to have been at fault for a Practice 2 incident between himself and Scott Ogden (FleetSafe Honda – MLav Racing). 

– Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), the rider acting as chief Championship chaser to Alonso, will launch from P5 on the grid, and the Dutchman will have Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) for company after the Australian qualified in P6. Meanwhile, Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) will aim to fight for what would be a crucial victory from P7 on the grid. 

Tune in for the Moto3™ battle at 11:00 (UTC +2) as the pack aim to stop Alonso’s Misano charge. 

Tony Arbolino claimed pole position during Moto2 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Misano World Circuit – Marco Simoncelli, in San Marino. On board his Pirelli-shod Elf Marc VDS Racing Team Kalex, the Italian lapped the 2.6-mile track in 1:35.229, which was fastest among the field of 31 riders.

Arbolino’s countryman Celestino Vietti was second-best with a 1:35.240 on his Red Bull KTM Ajo Kalex.

Japan’s Ai Ogura earned the third and final spot on the front row with a time of 1:35.419 on his MT Helmets – MSI Boscoscuro.

American Joe Roberts qualified seventh with a 1:35.650 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.

David Alonso captured pole position during Moto3 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Misano World Circuit – Marco Simoncelli, in San Marino. Riding his Gaviota Aspar Team CFMOTO on Pirelli control tires, the young Colombian lapped the 2.6-mile course in 1:40.505 to top the field of 27 riders.

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Bagnaia, Morbidelli, Bezzecchi: home heroes take the front row, with Martin P4 and Marquez P9

A crash for #MM93, a new lap record for Bagnaia and key names further down the grid set the scene for fireworks at Misano

Saturday, 07 September 2024

Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) charged to an incredible pole position at the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini, with the #1 demolishing the lap record to bounce back from a tough Aragon GP in style. Bagnaia has a 0.285s advantage over the field, heading an all-Italian front row ahead of Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing), who claimed his first front-row start since 2021, and Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), who continued an impressive Saturday after topping FP2.

Q1

It was a thrilling Q1, with Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) topping the standings after an impressive late lap cemented the #73’s place in Q2. Joining him, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) ended the session in second but by just 0.005, leaving almost nothing for any late attacks to split in two. A late lunge from Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) wasn’t quite enough to depose the top duo, and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) also similarly lost out late on.

Q2

As the second session began, fast laps were instantly clocked by Bagnaia, who set a 1:30.928 benchmark time. The #1 had an incredible first run, further improving by three-tenths on his second lap.

The field briefly returned to pitlane before heading to track for their final push for pole. Bagnaia instantly improved on his second run, breaking the lap record in the process amd throwing down the gauntlet.

Meanwhile, there was a crash for Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), with the #93 losing the front at Turn 15 with less than five minutes remaining. That left him down the order looking to see where he would end up. In the closing stages, Morbidelli and Bezzecchi put together a strong final run each, jumping onto an all-Italian front row and the duo just 0.020 apart on the timesheets. Bagnaia maintained that impressive 0.285 at the top.

THE GRID

Behind the Italian armada, Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) will start from fourth on the grid, ending Q2 0.341s adrift from his title rival on pole. Martin has Red Bull GASGAS Tech3’s Pedro Acosta alongside, with Binder rounding out the second row of the grid after the South African stormed to P6 via Q1.

Q1’s fastest, Alex Marquez, takes the seventh spot on the grid just ahead of Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team). The Beast starts from eighth after showing strong pace throughout the weekend in Misano. Meanwhile, after that crash, Marc Marquez is down in ninth, unable to return to track after his spill at Turn 15 and looking for a lot more when the lights go out. Behind him come Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) and Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) as the final Q2 runners.

Bagnaia needs a comeback and there’s no better place to start from pole. Martin looks to make another stunning start from Row 2, and Marquez and Bastianini aim to charge up the order as Morbidelli and Bezzecchi prepare to fight it out back at the front. Consider the stage set, and join us for more at Misano!