A rare mistake from Marc Márquez handed Marco Bezzecchi and Aprilia Racing a dream Saturday at the Red Bull Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera. In front of an ecstatic Italian crowd, Bezzecchi powered to his first sprint victory in two years, keeping his composure when it mattered most. Alex Márquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) secured second after a hard-fought ride, while Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) delighted the VR46 faithful with a home-soil podium in third.
Lightning Start – Bezzecchi vs the Márquez Brothers
From the moment the lights went out, Bezzecchi stamped his authority on proceedings. Launching cleanly off the line, he bravely swept around the outside of Turn 1 into Turn 2, snatching the holeshot in front of his home fans. Marc Márquez was immediately on the attack, forcing his way past brother Alex to grab second place, while Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) slotted into fourth by the end of Lap 1.
The opening laps were a showcase of raw speed. Bezzecchi and Alex Márquez traded fastest times, with Quartararo hovering just four-tenths back, ready to pounce if the front trio faltered. By Lap 3, Bezzecchi tightened his grip with a blistering 1:30.970, extending his lead to nearly half a second over the charging #93.
Early Drama – Quartararo Down, Pressure Mounts
Lap 5 brought the first major twist. Quartararo’s hopes of a strong Misano sprint ended abruptly when he lost the front at Turn 2, sliding out of P4. The crash promoted Di Giannantonio and his VR46 teammate Franco Morbidelli into contention for the top five.
At the same time, Bezzecchi’s rhythm wavered. A small mistake at Turn 4 left the door open, and Marc Márquez seized his chance at Turn 6, diving past to take the lead. The stage was set for a mouth-watering duel: the reigning title leader against the local hero.
A Shocking Fall – Marc Márquez Out
But the battle was over almost as soon as it began. Pushing hard to consolidate his advantage, Marc Márquez overstepped the limit at Turn 15 and lost the front. Despite his trademark attempt to save it with his elbow, there was no rescuing the Ducati. In an instant, the eight-time World Champion’s sprint was finished — his first major Saturday error of the year, and one that stunned both fans and paddock.
Bezzecchi suddenly found himself back in command, but Alex Márquez was not about to give up without a fight. The younger Márquez brother stalked the Italian, staying within half a second as the laps ticked away.
Diggia Holds Off Morbidelli as Bezzecchi Marches to Glory
With three laps remaining, Bezzecchi had stretched his lead to nearly a full second, giving the Misano crowd belief that they were about to witness a home victory. Behind them, the battle for the final podium spot intensified. Di Giannantonio defended bravely against teammate Morbidelli, who set his personal best lap on Lap 11 in a final push to steal the bronze medal position.
But Di Giannantonio held firm. When the last lap arrived, Bezzecchi led comfortably by 0.8s and brought his Aprilia RS-GP home to complete a fairytale Saturday — converting pole position into sprint glory in front of his home fans. Alex Márquez crossed in second, while Di Giannantonio hung on for a hugely popular podium in third.
Sprint Points – The Rest of the Top Finishers
Morbidelli had to settle for fourth after a late surge, with Red Bull KTM Factory rookie Pedro Acosta delivering another mature ride in fifth. Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing) impressed once again, shadowing Acosta to finish sixth. Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) added valuable points for HRC in seventh, while Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) rounded out the scorers in eighth.
A Day of Mixed Fortunes for Ducati
It was a Saturday to forget for the factory Ducati squad. Not only did Marc Márquez crash from the lead, but reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia endured a nightmare ride, finishing a lowly 13th. By contrast, Aprilia were left celebrating, with Bezzecchi’s victory marking a huge milestone in their push to challenge Ducati’s dominance.
All Eyes on Sunday’s Grand Prix
With Marc Márquez admitting afterwards that he had been “too confident” when pushing at the limit, the factory Ducati team will arrive on Sunday determined to bounce back. Meanwhile, Aprilia fans will be daring to dream of a double — could Bezzecchi turn his Saturday sprint triumph into a full Grand Prix victory? With Alex Márquez, Di Giannantonio, and Bagnaia all hungry to respond, the stage is set for a thriller in Misano.
Moto2: Holgado Holds Pole, Vietti Close Behind
Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Aspar Team) continued his blistering form in Moto2, taking back-to-back poles after his Barcelona success. The rookie Spaniard delivered a record 1:34.216, edging home favourite Celestino Vietti (SUP Racing) by just 0.040s. Points leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) lines up third, with Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing) and teammate Aron Canet in fourth and fifth respectively. Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) completes the second row.
Senna Agius and Tony Arbolino follow on Row 3, joined by Barcelona podium finisher Jake Dixon in ninth. Albert Arenas (Italjet Gresini Moto2) rounds out the top ten. Sunday promises fireworks as Gonzalez defends his championship lead against an aggressive chasing pack.
Moto3: Perrone Flies to Pole, Roulstone Hits New Heights
In Moto3, Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) secured his second pole of the season with a stunning late lap, spearheading a KTM lockout of the front row. Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) joins him in second, with rookie Jacob Roulstone making his first career front-row start in third.
Championship leader Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) heads Row 2 in fourth, with David Muñoz (Dynavolt Intact GP) and Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) behind him. Honda’s Taiyo Furusato leads Row 3 alongside Ryusei Yamanaka and Maximo Quiles.
Angel Piqueras, second in the championship, will have work to do from 11th on the grid after a tough session. With the Misano crowd behind their local heroes, Sunday’s Moto3 battle looks set to be another nail-biting showdown.
In short: Bezzecchi’s Misano sprint win wasn’t just about speed — it was about nerve, timing, and seizing the moment when the favourite faltered. With Ducati wounded, Aprilia emboldened, and a grid full of hungry challengers, Grand Prix Sunday has all the ingredients for another classic.
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