Six-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez won the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano on Sunday ahead of reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati), and well ahead of championship leader Jorge Martin, who finished just 15th.
Just a week after returning to winning ways – ending more than 1,000 days of drought – star Marquez continues the show aboard his Ducati-Gresini.
Starting only 9th on the grid under a heavy and threatening sky covering the Italian circuit of Misano, the Spanish driver won thanks to a light shower which reshuffled the cards – and which especially affected the championship leader Jorge Martin.
The white flags – indicating a wet track – were waved, giving riders the opportunity to return to the pits to start with a bike equipped with rain tires.
While the big names on the grid preferred to stay on track, Martin chose to go back into his garage to change bikes… before stopping again a few moments later to get back on his initial Ducati-Pramac.
This strategic error costs him dearly since in the championship, he now sees his runner-up Bagnaia return, whom he is now only seven points behind. Marquez consolidates his third place and returns to 53 points behind Martin.
– Mark “too fit” for Bagnaia –
The day before, the Madrilenian had nevertheless widened the gap in the general standings against his Italian rival, thanks to his victory in the sprint ahead of Bagnaia, second and “absolutely not happy” with his performance.
“As much as yesterday (Saturday, editor’s note) I could have won, today (Sunday) victory was not possible,” admitted the defending champion who started from pole position at the finish. “Marc was too fit for me to try my luck.”
“Someone in the sky thought we should bring a few drops here so I could take the reins of the race” and thus win his 61st GP in the elite, Marquez savoured.
In front of nearly 90,000 spectators gathered around the coastal circuit of Misano, almost all of them won over to the cause of the Italian riders, it was another of them, Enea Bastianini (Ducati), who completed the podium of this 13th round (out of 20) of the season.
Frenchman Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha), 2021 world champion, took 7th place after starting 10th. He equaled his best result of the season. His compatriot Johann Zarco finished 12th on his still very slow Honda-LCR.
The championship continues in two weeks with a second Grand Prix at Misano – the Emilia Romagna GP – which replaces the round scheduled in Kazakhstan, cancelled for logistical reasons.
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