Misano once again belonged to Marc Marquez on Saturday as the Ducati rider delivered another clinical sprint victory, reinforcing his title challenge with a commanding performance at one of Aprilia’s strongest circuits. Starting from the front row alongside pole-sitter Marco Bezzecchi, Marquez made the decisive move before the first sector was complete and never relinquished the lead, claiming his second consecutive sprint win and closing the gap to Jorge Martin in the championship to just 14 points.
The key moment came at the very first corner. Bezzecchi had secured a stunning home pole position earlier in the day with a record-breaking lap, becoming the first rider ever to break the 1:30 barrier at Misano. But as the lights went out, Marquez launched brilliantly from second on the grid and out-braked the Italian into Turn 1, repeating the aggressive start that had earned him victory in Aragón two weeks earlier. Once in front, the Spaniard immediately established a relentless pace that prevented Bezzecchi from mounting a serious attack.
Although Bezzecchi briefly reduced the gap during the middle phase of the race, Marquez always looked in complete control. Carefully managing his tyres while repeatedly setting the fastest sectors, the Ducati rider responded every time his rival threatened to close in. By the closing laps, the reigning champion had stretched his advantage to just over a second, sealing another authoritative victory with the fastest lap of the sprint.
Behind the leading duo, Jorge Martin produced one of the strongest recoveries of the afternoon. Starting only fifth on the grid, the championship leader fought his way through the field with a series of decisive overtakes before snatching third place from Fabio Di Giannantonio in the closing stages. His late charge limited the damage in the title race, while Di Giannantonio had to settle for fourth after narrowly missing out on the podium.
Further back, Pedro Acosta, Fermin Aldeguer and Alex Marquez were involved in several intense battles as the fight for the remaining points unfolded. Fabio Quartararo’s race ended in disappointment after a crash, while Luca Marini completed the points-paying positions following another consistent ride for Honda. The frantic pace and constant overtaking ensured the Misano crowd enjoyed one of the most entertaining sprint races of the season.
As the chequered flag fell, Marquez celebrated yet another perfect Saturday. His superb start, flawless race management and relentless speed once again proved decisive, extending his record as the most successful sprint rider in MotoGP history. More importantly, the victory significantly tightened the championship battle ahead of Sunday’s main race, with just 14 points now separating Marquez from Martin as the season enters its decisive phase.
MiniBikers – MotoGP
2026 San Marino GP
Sprint
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