Reload for Emilia-Romagna: can the home heroes take back their territory?
Reload for Emilia-Romagna: Can the Home Heroes Reclaim Their Territory?
The paddock returns to the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli for the Gran Premio Pramac dell’Emilia-Romagna, with plenty on the line – from the Constructors’ title to significant Ducati milestones.
Get ready for more MotoGP™ action as the race for season honors heats up. The most coveted prize is the Constructors’ Championship, which Ducati could clinch on Sunday. With a 229-point lead over KTM and 239 over Aprilia, they need just 222 points by the end of the race to secure the title. A victory at Misano would also mark Ducati’s 100th MotoGP™ win. Adding to the drama, the top two in the rider standings – Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) and reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) – are separated by just seven points. With so much at stake, an epic showdown is on the horizon.
The Show Will Go On
Jorge Martin will be eager to make a statement after his gamble in the last race didn’t pay off. Not only is he looking to extend his lead in the championship, but he also aims to secure Ducati’s milestone 100th win and beat the Italian riders on their home turf. He knows he can do it; he won at Misano in 2023 without any weather complications.
Francesco Bagnaia arrives at Misano with a narrower lead in the standings but with his own milestone in sight: his 100th MotoGP™ start. This race also marks a potential historic moment for Ducati, with the Constructors’ title possibly being clinched on home turf in Bagnaia’s 100th race – if he can secure Ducati’s 100th win. He is closer to full fitness this time around, something that hasn’t been the case at Misano since 2022.
Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), now confirmed to join the Ducati factory team alongside Bagnaia next season, is also in the mix. He’ll want to make his mark early, and winning at Misano for the third consecutive time would extend his record as the most successful rider at this circuit on the current grid. It would also tighten the championship fight even more.
Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) boasts a 100% podium record in MotoGP™ races he’s started at Misano. With the possibility of securing Ducati’s 100th MotoGP™ win on his home turf, he has plenty of motivation. He’s also just nine points behind Marc Marquez in the standings, adding further fuel to the fire.
On the Chase
While the top four in the championship are the main focus, there are other riders who could shake things up. Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) has shown increasing speed throughout 2024, grabbing his first Sprint rostrum last time out. Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) also displayed promise with a front row start and top-five finish at the last GP race. With a better start, he could be a serious contender this weekend.
KTM and GASGAS also showed good pace last time out. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) finished fourth, while rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) had a solid Sprint. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) had his best Sunday finish since Portimão and will be aiming for more points. Meanwhile, Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) looks to rebound after a tough race at Misano during their first visit.
Chapeau!
Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) delivered an impressive performance last time out, equaling his best Sunday finish and scoring in the Sprint. He and teammate Alex Rins have been testing at Misano, aiming to take another step forward.
Back in the Saddle
Aprilia aims to recover from a difficult patch, with both Maverick Viñales and Aleix Espargaro failing to score points at the San Marino GP. The Monday test at Misano was focused on current performance, and they hope to turn things around. Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Racing) was the top finisher for Aprilia last time, and he’ll be looking for more. The factory riders will want to surpass him this time.
At Honda, it’s a first full weekend at Misano for Repsol Honda Team’s Joan Mir and Luca Marini. Both missed out on the last race due to illness but returned for the Monday test. Takaaki Nakagami and Johann Zarco (IDEMITSU and CASTROL Honda LCR) have solid points finishes and will aim to continue adding to their tally.
Showtime Schedule
- Saturday
- Tissot Sprint: 15:00 (UTC +2)
- Sunday
- Grand Prix: 13:00 (UTC +2)
What’s Happening at the #EmiliaRomagnaGP?
The Gran Premio Pramac dell’Emilia-Romagna kicks off with a series of exciting events designed to bring MotoGP™ even closer to the passionate Italian fanbase.
- Wednesday: The festivities begin in the city center of Rimini with a special fan event. Headlining this evening gathering will be Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team), and Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team). Fans in attendance will have the chance to participate in a Q&A session with these MotoGP™ stars.
- Thursday: The action continues with the MotoGP™ podcast “Last On The Brakes,” featuring an interview with Franco Morbidelli from Prima Pramac Racing. Following the podcast, it’s time for the press conferences:
- First Press Conference: Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), and Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) will take the stage.
- Second Press Conference: Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) will address the media.
Moto2™: Can Ogura Double Down?
Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) claimed his third win of the 2024 season, taking the lead in the Championship standings as Moto2™ heads into Round 14. After a challenging run of races at Silverstone, Austria—where he suffered a right-hand fracture—and Aragon, the Japanese rider returned to the podium for the first time since his P3 finish in Germany.
Ogura secured victory by a margin of 0.6 seconds over Aron Canet (Fantic Racing), establishing a nine-point lead over his teammate Sergio Garcia. Garcia managed a remarkable recovery to P12 after a difficult Friday and Saturday, showing that the title race has shifted from one side of the MT Helmets – MSI garage to the other. The question now is: how will Garcia respond?
Joining Ogura and Canet on the podium was Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team), who notched his second consecutive podium finish. After a tough start to the season, the Italian seems to be regaining his form, and a strong home race performance could set him up well for the upcoming flyaway rounds.
Elsewhere on the grid, Manuel Gonzalez (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) put in a solid effort to finish P4. Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) claimed P5, describing it as feeling “like a win” after climbing from P14 on the grid. Home favorite Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo) will be aiming for redemption after crashing out from P4 late in the race, while Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) will also look to recover after his early crash on Lap 1.
The ever-evolving Moto2™ title race is full of twists and turns. What drama will unfold as the Championship returns to Misano?
Moto3™: Can the Chasers Keep Up the Pressure?
Last time out in Moto3™, Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing) delivered a stunning comeback, clinching his debut win despite having to serve not one, but two Long Lap penalties. The rookie’s performance was remarkable, and now the question is whether the #36 can make it back-to-back wins as he returns to the same track this weekend.
Piqueras will certainly be aiming for another victory, especially if he can avoid any long lap penalties this time around. However, the competition won’t make it easy for him. One rider determined to stop Piqueras from doubling up is Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3). The #96 has found his form recently, with two podium finishes in the last three races, moving him up to P2 in the overall standings.
Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) also bounced back from a disappointing race in Aragon to secure his seventh podium of the season, narrowly edging out Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) by less than a tenth of a second. Both Furusato and fifth-place finisher Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) managed to overtake a frustrated David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) on the final lap. Alonso ended up in P7 after receiving a penalty for exceeding track limits, which promoted Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) to P6. This marked the first time this season that Alonso has finished off the podium in consecutive races.
Despite this setback, Alonso (#80) still maintains a commanding 70-point lead in the Championship standings. As the grid heads to Emilia-Romagna, he’ll be looking for redemption. Can he bounce back and maintain his lead?
Official MotoGP Press Release
