Reported
Marquez threatens to seize MotoGP championship lead at Misano
Marc Márquez aims for the MotoGP championship lead at Misano, just 19 points behind Jorge Martín, despite physical concerns. Local hero Marco Bezzecchi also targets a home victory.
MotoGP returns to action at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, where Marc Márquez is poised to challenge championship leader Jorge Martín for the top spot, according to Motorsport Week. Following his dominant performance in Aragon, Márquez has significantly closed the gap, trailing Martín by only 19 points with just two rounds remaining before the series heads overseas.
Márquez's Misano Prowess and Physical Concerns
Márquez swept both the Sprint and the main race in Spain, a pivotal weekend that compressed the top three in the standings, Motorsport Week reported. His record at Misano is formidable, with six victories since the circuit returned to the calendar in 2007, more than any other rider. Despite his historical success, doubts persist regarding the 2025 champion’s physical condition, as a recent photo posted by Márquez highlighted the lasting toll on his repeatedly injured right arm.
Márquez has historically favoured anticlockwise circuits due to recurring injuries to his right arm and shoulder, Motorsport Week noted. Misano, with its 10 right-hand turns and 6 left-hand turns, does not align with this preference, potentially posing an additional challenge for the Spanish rider. The upcoming Spanish Grand Prix is scheduled for September 11, the first session at 14:30 Finnish time, but has no direct connection to any Finnish driver or team.
Local Hero Bezzecchi's Momentum
Local hero Marco Bezzecchi arrives at his home race carrying considerable momentum, having launched the second half of his 2026 campaign on a positive note after a difficult run that began at Balaton Park, Motorsport Week indicated. Despite battling a painful left knee, the Rimini native built on his pair of podium finishes at Silverstone by securing a brilliant pole position and two additional podiums in Aragon.
These strong results have brought Bezzecchi within 24 points of teammate Jorge Martín, who endured a tougher outing in Spain, managing only two top-five finishes. Even so, Martín has successfully rebuilt a substantial lead, extending what was a slim 11-point advantage prior to the summer break, Motorsport Week reported. A Sunday victory for Bezzecchi would mark several significant milestones, including Italy’s 300th premier class win, Bezzecchi’s 11th career victory across 11 different circuits, and Aprilia’s first-ever win at Misano.
Weather and Grid Impact
Unusually for this time of year, weather could play a role in the Grand Prix’s outcome, as rain threatens to disrupt several sessions throughout the weekend while heavy clouds hover over the track, Motorsport Week stated. However, Sunday’s main race is expected to escape the worst of it.
The grid will also be short of two full-time entries. Trackhouse Racing’s Ai Ogura remains sidelined due to a left thumb injury, having missed the Aragon GP, where Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori substituted for him. For this weekend, the squad has opted not to field a replacement rider, leaving a vacancy on the grid, according to Motorsport Week.
Status And Sources
This story is labelled Reported, which means a newsroom we cite carries this but the people involved have not confirmed it. The rules behind those labels are in the editorial policy, and the desk that published it is Eero Lahtinen.
Written from the following reporting. Each link goes to the newsroom's own page, not to an aggregator:
- Motorsport Weekmotorsportweek.com
