First it was Santamonica, then it became Misano World Circuit and for 11 years has been entitled to Marco Simoncelli: a jewel set in the Land of Motors, with curves – Sunset, Rio, Quercia, Carro – like verses of a poem at (almost) three hundred per hour. Built on an old airstrip from the First World War, strongly desired by Enzo Ferrari (the administrations of the time wanted to build an incinerator there), designed by the engineer from Modena Umberto Cavazzuti at the beginning of the 70s. First official races on 6 August 1972, a series of car trophies with victories signed by drivers such as Arturo Merzario, Vittorio Brambilla and Giancarlo Martini. A week later, the bikes: they won James Augustine in the 350, Renzo Pasolini in the 250, Othello Buscherini in the 125 e Guido Mandracci in the 750. Romagna Riviera, province of Rimini, right next to Riccione and exactly 14 kilometers and 200 meters (more or less three laps of the track) from the Tavullia of Valentino Rossi: in the Doc’s backyard. You get there along a road dedicated to another champion who tragically died, the Japanese Daijiro Kato. Half a century ago it should have also hosted Italy’s response to Woodstock, a great musical concert organized by impresario David Zard, but nothing came of it in the end.
Challenge between Bagnaia and Bastianini at Misano?
Track much loved by Italian riders, who look forward to Sunday’s race, the gp of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera: Bagnaia here he won a year ago and wants to repeat itself, Bastianini on the same track he took two podium finishes within a month, Marines and Bezzecchi they recite by heart one bend after another, Dovizioso wants to say goodbye to a splendid career with consistent proof, Morbidelli he’s another one who grew up around here and seeks redemption. But the last one to win at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli was the unlucky one Marc Marquezlast October 24 (successful poker for him on the Romagna circuit, Valentino e Lorenzo they stopped at 3): then it was one-two for Honda (with Pol Espargarò), and the ‘Beast’ in third place. In the last two years it has been raced 4 times and only 4 different riders have crossed the finish line: Morbidelli, Vinales, Bagnaia, Marquez.
At Misano ten fearless braking
It’s the 14th round of the season: the MotoGP will run 27 laps of a 4,226-metre circuit with 10 braking points and a braking difficulty that the Brembo experts – suppliers to all the riders – judge to be “average”. Sixteen corners, 10 right and 6 left. The first is one of the most demanding: you get there at 281 kmh, in 200 meters and 4 seconds you go down to 116 kmh. You arrive even faster (294 km/h) at number 8, dropping to 79 km/h in 225 meters and 4.8 seconds. The third round to report is the 4th: from 202 to 71 kmh in 3.8 seconds and 131 metres. There are no straight stretches longer than 530 metres, and in fact the maximum speed never exceeds 300 km/h.
Dovizioso’s farewell: “I’ve never wasted my talent, this MotoGP is no longer for me”
by Massimo Calandri
Gp Misano, the program and where to see the race on TV
We take to the track on Friday morning, the first are as always the Moto3 riders, who at 9 am face to face with the first free practice session. MotoGP (9.55 am) and Moto2 (10.55 am) follow. A few hours later it’s still the turn of the lighter category with the FP2s that Moto3 faces at 1.15pm, then MotoGP (2.10pm) and Moto3 (3.10pm).
Saturday, qualifying day. But first comes the third session: Moto3 at 9, MotoGP at 9.55, Moto2 at 10.55. Moto3 qualifying from 12.55, then the MotoGP FP4 at 13.30, followed (14.10) by Q1 and Q2. Moto2 qualifying from 3.10pm.
Sunday, the race. At 9 the Moto3 warm up, 20 minutes later that of the Moto2 and at 9.30 the MotoGP. The start of the Moto3 at 11: it runs over 23 laps. Green light for Moto2 at 12.20 (25), MotoGP as always at 14. The Misano weekend will be broadcast live on Sky and streamed on Now. Pole and race in real time also on Tv8.