Rennie Scaysbrook | September 4, 2022
Sunday
MotoGP
In a thrilling 27-lap encounter at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Francesco Bagnaia (Lenovo Ducati) ignited his title chase with a minuscule 0.034-second victory over his 2023 factory Ducati teammate, Enea Bastianini (Gresini Ducati) as the two Italians asserted their dominance on home turf.
Bagnaia was bulletproof in Ducati’s backyard as he took the lead from Bastianini on the third lap after polesitter and initial race leader, Jack Miller, crashed out of P1 on lap two. From there to the finish, Bagnaia was constantly hounded by the chasing pack, first from Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales and finally by Bastianini, whose infamous late race pace was on full display as the two Italians left Vinales in their wake.
Bagnaia was bulletproof at his home race, resisting everything from Bastianini to take the win.
On the final lap, Bastianini made a lunge at turn four and very nearly clattered into the back of Bagnaia, running wide and giving what looked like a race-winning advantage to his future teammate. Yet “The Beast” refused to give in and despite the mistake, produced the fastest lap of the race as he hunted Bagnaia down, coming up 0.034-seconds short in the closest MotoGP race finish for many years.
Bagnaia wrote two new records for himself at Misano. The win, his fourth in a row, is the first time an Italian has done so since Valentino Rossi in 2008 and the first time any Ducati rider has done so in the manufacturer’s history, placing him ahead of Ducati’s only World Champion, Casey Stoner.
Vinales eventually resigned himself to third place, his third podium in four races for the factory Aprilia team, as he headed Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Ducati) in the Italian’s best ride of the season.
Zarco, Pirro, and Espargaro get skittled in the first corner.
Fifth was a despondent Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) as the Frenchman lost another 14 points to the relentless Bagnaia in the title chase. Qualifying down in eighth, the World Champion eventually clawed his way up past Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) but couldn’t close down Marini, admitting he was “on the limit” for the entirety of the race.
Espargaro was sixth, losing more ground to Quartararo and Bagnaia in the title chase, ahead of Suzuki’s Alex Rins.
Red Bull KTM’s Brad Binder was eighth but was involved in a nasty first corner collision in which he tagged Prima Pramac Ducati’s Johann Zarco, sending him crashing into Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda) and Ducati wildcard, Michele Pirro, taking all three out of the race.
Ninth was Zarco’s teammate Jorge Martin from Alex Marquez (LCR Castrol Honda) from Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM) and Andrea Dovizioso, who signed off his MotoGP career with 12th place on the WithU RNF Yamaha.
Andrea Dovizioso bids farewell to MotoGP after a career spanning three decades (2001-2022).
Rounding out the points-scoring top 15 was Raul Fernandez (Tech3 KTM) in one of his best rides of the year, wildcard Stefan Bradl (Repsol Honda) and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Idemitsu Honda).
The title race is now well and truly on as the series heads to one of Ducati’s happy hunting grounds of Aragon in Spain with Bagnaia now leapfrogging Espargaro up to second place, 30 points behind Quartararo, 211 to 181. Espargaro’s third on 178 with Bastianini fourth on 138.
2022 San Marino MotoGP Results
| 1 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Duc) |
27 laps |
| 2 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Duc) |
+ 0.034 |
| 3 |
Maverick Viñales |
(Apr) |
+ 4.212 |
| 4 |
Luca Marini |
(Duc) |
+ 5.283 |
| 5 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yam) |
+ 5.771 |
| 6 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Apr) |
+ 10.230 |
| 7 |
Alex Rins |
(Suz) |
+ 12.496 |
| 8 |
Brad Binder |
(KTM) |
+ 14.661 |
| 9 |
Jorge Martin |
(Duc) |
+ 17.732 |
| 10 |
Alex Marquez |
(Hon) |
+ 21.986 |
Moto2
If you believe in sporting fairytales, they don’t come much better than Alonzo Lopez’s (+Ego Speed Up) first Grand Prix win at Misano. The 20-year-old Spaniard was on the couch at the start of the year, having been dropped by Max Biaggi’s Moto3 team last year, but received the call-up from Luca Boscoscuro to replace the underperforming Romano Fenati after the Jerez round.
At Misano, Lopez made good on the promise shown over the next seven rounds, taking a commanding 1.2-second victory as he controlled the race from Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40 Kalex). It was Canet’s eighth second place finish in Moto2, the Spaniard still looking for that first win, while Lopez’s win was the Speed Up/Boscoscuro chassis’ first victory since Fabio Quartararo took the gold at the 2018 Catalunya Moto2 race.
Lopez has proven to be the find of the season in Moto2. His victory was hardly surprising given the speed shown over the past few rounds.
Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) pushed through to third and the championship lead at Misano, bettering Albert Arenas (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team), with erstwhile championship leader Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) in fifth.
As for the American contingent, Joe Roberts (Italtrans Kalex) came home ninth, Cameron Beaubier (American Racing Team) took 14th and Sean Dylan Kelly (American Racing Team) crashed out with seven laps remaining.
In the title race, Fernandez has four points over Ogura, 198 to 194. Canet is third on 157, one point up on Celestino Vietti, who couldn’t convert his pole position into points, crashing out for the fifth time in 2022 to severely damage his title hopes.
2022 San Marino Moto2 Results
| 1 |
Alonso Lopez |
(Bos) |
|
| 2 |
Aron Canet |
(Kal) |
+ 1.253 |
| 3 |
Augusto Fernandez |
(KTM) |
+ 3.305 |
| 4 |
Albert Arenas |
(Kal) |
+ 4.615 |
| 5 |
Ai Ogura |
(Kal) |
+ 9.166 |
| 9 |
Joe Roberts |
(Kal) |
+ 18.242 |
| 14 |
Cameron Beaubier |
+ 38.371 |
|
| DNF |
Sean Dylan Kelly |
(Kal) |
|
Moto3
Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) made history in the Moto3 race the Italian became the first rider to win three races at a single track after coming out on top at Misano. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) claimed podiums in second and third with polesitter Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) a valiant fourth. For former title leader Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team), it was a race to forget after a crash and a black flag meant zero points.
Dennis Foggia charged back into title contention with the Misano win.
Guevara is the new Moto3 World Championship leader, 11 points clear of teammate Garcia. Foggia is back in contention, 35 points off Guevara.
2022 San Marino Moto3 Results
| 1 |
Dennis Foggia |
(Hon) |
|
| 2 |
Jaume Masia |
(KTM) |
+ 0.289 |
| 3 |
Izan Guevara |
(GASGAS) |
+ 0.334 |
| 4 |
Deniz Öncü |
(KTM) |
+ 0.453 |
| 5 |
Daniel Holgado |
(KTM) |
+ 4.955 |
2022 San Marino MotoGP News—Saturday
Marquez confirms testing return
Marc Marquez was back in the paddock on Saturday ahead of an appearance at the two-day MotoGP test on Tuesday and Wednesday. The eight-time champ received the OK from doctors on August 24th to step up his training and return to riding motorcycles. He did two days of riding on a CBR600.
Marc Marquez will be back on his RCV at the Misano test.
“Two weeks ago, even I didn’t push a lot on the gym. I was working with elastics. Then last week and half, I started to increase quite a lot in the gym, but the muscles need to take the time. And especially more than the muscles is also because I was riding and living one year and a half with one arm 34 degrees rotated. The doctor said to me that from now on, maybe in the winter time you will do the last step. But the important thing is that I have an acceptable level to start to ride a bike, but not in a way that I want. Still I have a long way to go.”
Despite saying that, Marquez confirmed if the test goes well, he could well return to competition at Aragon in two weeks’ time. “When I will return, it’s because I want to race all races. I mean, not one race and then stay at home. After this test I will understand how is my level and how is the reaction of my arm and I will understand if it’s possible to race in Aragon or not. But you know me, if it’s possible, I will try. But if it’s not possible I will wait.”
Marquez brothers explain Alzamora split
At Misano the Marquez brothers explained their reasoning behind the split with long-time manager Emilio Alzamora, who had been advising Marc since he was 12. Both will be managed by Jimmy Martinez from now on, a figure who held the position of Head of Motorsports Marketing at Red Bull.
And Marc was light on details when explaining why he split from Alzamora, the 1999 125cc World Champion, but admitted relations had been strained over the past three years.
Alzamora and the Marquez brothers have been inseparable since the beginning, but that’s all coming to an end.
“You don’t have the same mentality when you are 18 years old or when you are 30. And sometimes in the relations is important to choose the correct moment to stop, to finish in a good ways. It’s true at the last two or three years already was difficult. I’m not the same Marc at 20 years old and 30. And yeah, I mean the world is in a constant evolution and it’s changing the paddock. So now was the time especially to refresh everything and to start a new chapter of my career.
Aprilia bolsters its ranks
Aprilia and its soon-to-be satellite outfit succeeded in signing its first choice rider line-up as both Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez were confirmed at RNF Aprilia for 2023.
Miguel Oliveira will switch to Aprilia power next year.
“They were both our first choice. I rate Miguel as a top rider. He already showed a lot of speed in MotoGP. And Raul is a super-talent. He didn’t do the season he was expecting. But hopefully we can put him in the position to take it out. I think we’ll have a very strong mix.”
“They are two talented riders and they have a very good future in front of them because they are both young. Hopefully it can help us develop the bike and fight against eight Ducatis for the championship. I can’t wait to see how they react when they jump on the bike in Valencia.”
Saturday
MotoGP
For the first time since the 2018 Argentina GP, Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) will start a MotoGP™ race from pole position after coming out on top of a rain-affected Q2 at the 2022 San Marino MotoGP. The Australian’s 1:31.899 was enough to beat teammate Francesco Bagnaia by 0.015s as the Italian faces a three-second grid penalty on Sunday, with Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP) making it a Ducati 1-2-3 in qualifying after finishing third.
Jack Miller pushed through for his second-ever career MotoGP pole position.
After finishing second, Bagnaia will launch from P5 for the San Marino GP after his mistake in FP1 in which he was docked three grid positions for impeding Alex Marquez. That means Bastianini will start from the middle of the front row in P2, and fourth place Bezzecchi moves up a row to line up third. Maverick Viñales is the final rider to benefit from Pecco’s penalty, the Spaniard will be eying at least a podium from P4 with Bagnaia – crucially – starting ahead of his main title rivals in fifth. Zarco joins Viñales and Bagnaia on the second row in sixth.
Marini leads the third row ahead of the top two in the World Championship: Quartararo and Aleix Espargaro. It wasn’t the Q2 they would have been looking for, but it will make for very interesting viewing to see how the Yamaha and Aprilia stars progress on Sunday afternoon. Oliveira, Franco Morbidelli and Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) complete the top 12.
2022 San Marino MotoGP Results—Saturday
| 1 |
Jack Miller |
(Duc) |
1:31.899 |
| 2 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Duc) |
+ 0.015 |
| 3 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Duc) |
+ 0.115 |
| 4 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Duc) |
+ 0.149 |
| 5 |
Maverick Viñales |
(Apr) |
+ 0.219 |
| 6 |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
+ 0.270 |
| 7 |
Luca Marini |
(Duc) |
+ 0.327 |
| 8 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yam) |
+ 0.347 |
| 9 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Apr) |
+ 0.678 |
| 10 |
Miguel Oliveira |
(KTM) |
+ 0.876 |
Moto2
The Mooney VR46 Racing Team’s Celestino Vietti has held on to the Moto2 pole position at Misano despite a late crash. The Italian was sitting on a 1:35.996 with the checkered flag out on Q2 at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli when he lost the front at Turn 8, but no one was able to steal pole off him.
Despite a crash late in the session, Celestino Vietti took the Moto2 pole.
Vietti will share the front row with Albert Arenas (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) and Alonso Lopez (+Ego Speed Up) in a top three covered by just under two-tenths of a second. Importantly, he is two rows ahead of the two riders ahead of him in the World Championship, namely Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) and Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo).
2022 San Marino Moto2 Results—Saturday
| 1 |
Celestino Vietti |
(Kal) |
1:35.996 |
| 2 |
Albert Arenas |
(Kal) |
+ 0.101 |
| 3 |
Alonso Lopez |
(Bos) |
+ 0.190 |
| 4 |
Aron Canet |
(Kal) |
+ 0.377 |
| 5 |
Tony Arbolino |
(Kal) |
+ 0.401 |
| 15 |
Joe Roberts |
(Kal) |
+0.766 |
| 24 |
Cameron Beaubier |
(Kal) |
+ 0.761 (Q1) |
| 29 |
Sean Dylan Kelly |
(Kal) |
+ 1.715 (Q1) |
Moto3
Despite nursing a shoulder injury, Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) produced the goods in a tricky Moto3 Q2 session in Rimini to claim pole position with a 1:42.448. The Turk beat Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo) by just 0.023s and third place Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) by 0.024s in a rain-effected 15-minute Q2.
It was another pole for Deniz Oncu in Moto3.
2022 San Marino Moto3 Results—Saturday
| 1 |
Deniz Öncü |
(KTM) |
1:42.448 |
| 2 |
Daniel Holgado |
(KTM) |
+ 0.023 |
| 3 |
Diogo Moreira |
(KTM) |
+ 0.024 |
| 4 |
Ryusei Yamanaka |
(KTM) |
+ 0.040 |
| 5 |
Izan Guevara |
(GASGAS) |
+ 0.161 |
MotoE
Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE) has won the 2022 FIM Enel MotoE World Cup title after he finished second and Eric Granado (LCR E-Team) crashed in race one at Misano. Mattia Casadei (Pons Racing 40) took victory on the day at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli but Aegerter claimed the biggest prize. His result gave him an unassailable 37.5-point lead with one race to go this season after Granado was unable to score despite remounting and making it to the finish.
Dominique Aegerter took third in 2020, second in 2021, and is now the MotoE World Cup Champion.
2022 San Marino MotoE Results—Race One
| 1 |
Mattia Casadei |
(Ene) |
|
| 2 |
Dominique Aegerter |
(Ene) |
+ 0.134 |
| 3 |
Matteo Ferrari |
(Ene) |
+ 0.188 |
| 4 |
Jordi Torres |
(Ene) |
+ 0.288 |
| 5 |
Alex Escrig |
(Ene) |
+ 5.086 |
2022 San Marino MotoGP News—Friday
Martin reacts to Ducati snub
Jorge Martin questioned the need for Ducati to create “a war” between himself and Enea Bastianini for the second seat in the factory team in 2023, a battle he lost.
The Spaniard said he felt Ducati management had lost some confidence in his abilities during a shaky season, when he has scored just two podiums in 13 races, a run that contributed to Bastianini gaining the edge.
Jorge Martin was less than impressed with Ducati’s internal war between himself and Bastianini.
“I think it’s not good even for Enea or for me, this war they create, the media or even…. a lot of people was talking. But I mean, I just try to make my good results. I suffer a little bit at the beginning of the season. Then from Barcelona I started to be quite consistent. I did a podium there also, so I don’t think it’s good for the riders because it’s not easy and you not perform to your 100 percent.
“I just felt it because, you know, we started speaking about 2023 and then I felt like they did a step back. So that’s why I tell I feel like they missed some confidence in myself.”
Gardner: KTM broke my heart
Remy Gardner gave an impassioned description of a tumultuous week that followed the Austrian Grand Prix, where he was informed that his services wouldn’t be required by KTM in 2023.
He was told “Saturday afternoon in Austria.” The news came as a surprise. “Wasn’t expecting it to be honest. I’ve always given 100 percent and, unfortunately, I don’t think it was good enough for the standard. They said I was not professional enough.”
Remy Gardner went from being World Champion to out of a job in less than a year.
The Australian understandably felt hard done by.
“I felt like maybe there’s not an appreciation for the world championship I brought them as well. I mean, I was just giving my best all the time and I guess it wasn’t good enough. It’s definitely hard to take, after fighting so many years and with a lot of injuries and fighting with not maybe the best machinery and finally managed to actually kick a goal and win a championship… [then] to just have only one year in MotoGP breaks my heart.
He has several offers to return to Moto2 next year, but remains unsure what his next move is. “I just feel a little bit deceived by the world of motorcycles at the moment. That’s why I’m not really sure even what I want to do next year.”
Bagnaia hit with penalty
Form man Francesco Bagnaia was hit with a three place grid penalty for some careless riding during FP1. The Italian wrongly felt he had finished the session, sat up and held up two riders behind, including Alex Marquez.
Francesco Bagnaia apologizing to Alex Marquez. He will take a three-place grid penalty as a result.
Surprisingly, the title contender was accepting of the penalty. “I think it’s correct. I totally agree with the penalty. I did a mistake, I thought that was already finished, that I already took the checkered flag. But I didn’t, so I did a mistake. I already say sorry to the Stewards and say is OK, it’s correct.
“I also asked why three grid and not long lap. They told me it’s because it’s the first time you do. So for the first time you had like a warning, that is grid position penalty, and then the long lap.
“So I agree with them. And it’s the only way possible to have a step in terms of pay more attention in this situation.”
Friday
MotoGP
Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP) set a 1:31.517 in MotoGP FP2 to end day one at the 2022 San Marino MotoGP as the fastest rider on track, with the Italian beating 2023 teammate Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) by 0.114s. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) made it a Desmosedici 1-2-3 on Friday afternoon, the top three split by 0.185s.
Enea Bastianini shadowed his 2023 teammate Francesco Bagnaia to take P1 on Friday.
Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Ducati) headed the fourth place on Friday ahead of World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) and Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro, the trio are sat within half a second of Bastianini heading into Saturday’s action. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) were late improvers to pounce into the top 10, and with the weather looking uncertain, it could prove crucial in terms of automatic Q2 promotion.
2022 San Marino MotoGP Results—Friday
| 1 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Duc) |
1:31.517 |
| 2 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Duc) |
+ 0.114 |
| 3 |
Jack Miller |
(Duc) |
+ 0.185 |
| 4 |
Johann Zarco |
(Duc) |
+ 0.320 |
| 5 |
Fabio Quartararo |
(Yam) |
+ 0.326 |
| 6 |
Maverick Viñales |
(Apr) |
+ 0.365 |
| 7 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Apr) |
+ 0.412 |
| 8 |
Jorge Martin |
(Duc) |
+ 0.649 |
| 9 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Duc) |
+ 0.674 |
| 10 |
Franco Morbidelli |
(Yam) |
+ 0.725 |
Moto2
Thanks to his 1:36.573 in Moto2 FP1, Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) topped the standings on Friday in San Marino despite a crash in the closing stages of FP2. Alonso Lopez (+Ego Speed Up) is 0.024s in arrears of Vietti’s time and rounding out the top three is veteran wildcard Mattia Pasini (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) – the Italian also crashed in the afternoon session.
Celestino Vietti topped Moto2 on Friday despite a crash.
2022 San Marino Moto2 Results—Friday
| 1 |
Celestino Vietti |
(Kal) |
1:36.573 |
| 2 |
Alonso Lopez |
(Bos) |
+ 0.024 |
| 3 |
Mattia Pasini |
(Kal) |
+ 0.095 |
| 4 |
Augusto Fernandez |
(Kal) |
+ 0.097 |
| 5 |
Jake Dixon |
(Kal) |
+ 0.119 |
| 19 |
Joe Roberts |
(Kal) |
+ 0.779 |
| 26 |
Cameron Beaubier |
(Kal) |
+ 1.497 |
| 31 |
Sean Dylan Kelly |
(Kal) |
+2.508 |
Moto3
Leopard Racing’s Dennis Foggia has marked himself as an early favorite in Moto3 at Misano after prevailing by a margin of 0.382 seconds in FP2.
P1 for Dennis Foggia on Friday at Misano.
‘The Rocket’ lived up to his nickname by setting a 1:41.608 around the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli when no one else could go any better than a 1:41.990. That was Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max’s Ayumu Sasaki, the race winner a fortnight ago at the Red Bull Ring, while Tatsuki Suzuki was a full 0.546 seconds off the pace after the second Friday session on the other Leopard Racing Honda.
2022 San Marino Moto3 Results—Friday
| 1 |
Dennis Foggia |
(Hon) |
1:41.608 |
| 2 |
Ayumu Sasaki |
(Hus) |
+ 0.382 |
| 3 |
Tatsuki Suzuki |
(Hon) |
+ 0.546 |
| 4 |
Sergio Garcia |
(GASGAS) |
+ 0.550 |
| 5 |
John McPhee |
(Hus) |
+ 0.670 |
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