Reigning world champion Marc Márquez seized the San Marino Grand Prix sprint victory after passing pole-sitter Marco Bezzecchi at the opening corner.
Bezzecchi had delivered the first sub-1:30 lap in Misano history. The Italian clocked a 1’29.982 circuit record aboard the factory Aprilia to secure his second consecutive pole position. However, that qualifying advantage vanished immediately.
Aprilia Surrenders Launch Advantage
Márquez launched his Ducati from second on the grid with superior efficiency, clearing Bezzecchi before Turn 1. The Aprilia launch weakness proved costly against the formidable Ducati starting procedure. This mechanical dependency mirrors challenges elsewhere, as F1 teams face setup dilemmas in Madrid this weekend.
Every rider selected a medium front tyre, but Bezzecchi opted for a soft rear compound while Márquez bolted on a medium.
“Immediately when I started, the plan was to try to lead the race because I was with the medium [rear] tyre and ‘Bez’ [Bezzecchi] was with the soft,” Márquez told Fox Sports.
Tyre Strategy Defines Misano Sprint
The Ducati rider led all 13 laps. Bezzecchi closed the gap during the final stages, but Márquez responded with the fastest lap to finish 1.068s clear. Points leader Jorge Martín recovered to finish third for Aprilia after dropping to sixth.
With Ducati strengthening its overall package through moves like Nicolo Bulega’s VR46 return, Aprilia engineers must solve their race-start deficit. The factory rider must adjust his opening-corner defence to protect his tyre advantage.
The grid returns for the full 27-lap Grand Prix on Sunday.
