Gresini’s Marc Marquez took an impressive MotoGP victory ahead of Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia in changeable conditions at Misano.
Marquez recorded back-to-back victories for the first time since 2021 as Bagnaia slashed Jorge Martin’s championship lead down to seven points after the Pramac rider’s lapse in judgement saw him cross the line a lap down in 15th.
Bagnaia started well from pole to keep his lead ahead of Pramac’s Franco Morbidelli in second, who was able to stay in front of teammate Martin going into Turn 1.
Martin responded quickly and was able to pass Morbidelli to get himself up into second and was preparing to chase after Bagnaia out front.
The Pramac rider looked to be the faster of the two and made a move on Bagnaia at Turn 1 but contact forced Martin to sit up, which allowed Morbidelli and the GasGas of Pedro Acosta to close in.
Acosta made an attempt to pass Morbidelli at Turn 5 for third, but contact with the Italian’s bike cost the Spaniard his wing – and shortly after he crashed out of fifth, but rejoined the race.
Morbidelli was running as the fastest rider on track, but crashed out of third as he was closing in on teammate Martin.
As light rain started to come down, Martin was cutting the gap to Bagnaia in front, but ran wide to cost himself the chance of an overtake.
GasGas’ Augusto Fernandez crashed as the rain continued to fall, as the teams started to question whether it would be worth gambling on a change to wet tyres.
Martin made the decision to come in to change bikes – and was joined in the pitlane by the Aprilia duo of Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales, Trackhouse’s Raul Fernandez, Yamaha’s Alex Rins and the rejoining Acosta.
Out front, the gap between the top eight riders closed dramatically, as Marc Marquez took over from Bagnaia to lead the race.
It quickly became evident that it was the wrong call from Martin and the other changers as they returned to the pits on Lap 10 to go back to the dry bikes – effectively ending any chances of a victory after being lapped by the leaders.
Bagnaia looked comfortable in following Marquez around in second, knowing that his championship rival was further down the order, holding a comfortable margin over teammate Enea Bastianini in third.
Marquez was able to cruise to his second successive victory ahead of the Ducati duo of Bagnaia and Bastianini.
Red Bull KTM’s Brad Binder came home in fourth ahead of VR46’s Marco Bezzecchi in fifth, as the Gresini of Alex Marquez was able to outdrag the Yamaha of Fabio Quartararo to the line for sixth.
Jack Miller was eighth on the KTM, leading home VR46’s Fabio Di Giannantonio in ninth and Red Bull KTM wildcard Pol Espargaro, who rounded out the top 10.
Trackhouse’s Miguel Oliveira finished the race as the top Aprilia rider in 11th, ahead of the Honda trio of Johann Zarco, Takaaki Nakagami and Stefan Bradl.
Martin was able to salvage a point from a nightmare race in 15th, narrowly ahead of the Aprilia of Viñales in 16th.
Acosta finished 17th after crashing on the fourth lap, as Raul Fernandez on the Trackhouse and Alex Rins on the Yamaha closed out the classified finishers in 18th and 19th.
Aleix Espargaro retired following a double bike swap, while Repsol Honda saw neither rider take the start, with Luca Marini electing to sit out of the race after becoming ill overnight after Joan Mir’s withdrawal due to gastroenteritis earlier in the weekend.
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