Here we are: MotoGP is ready to land in Romagna for the San Marino Grand Prix and the Rimini Riviera for its second stage in Italy. The World Championship arrives in Misano at a key moment of the season, with Pecco Bagnaia lining up three victories, managing to reduce his gap with world leader Fabio Quartararo from 91 to 44 points.
It is clear that this is still a heavy gap, but the track named after Marco Simoncelli represents a good opportunity for the Ducati rider, because his route plan in the last two years, in which he raced four times, was important. The vice-champion of the world has centered a victory and a second place. It is true that there are also two boxes filled with zeroes, but it is equally true that both have matured when he was in charge, so his potential on this track is undeniable.
Just as it is undeniable that of his future teammate Enea Bastianini, who could be an important ally. The Rimini rider last year was able to get on the podium twice with an old Ducati GP19, so it’s safe to bet that he will be able to do very well with a GP21. Moreover, now he is very distant in the World Championship and having reached the goal of signing with the official team he could also work as a squire for the compatriot. Without forgetting that we are also talking about the home track for Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi, who ride it a lot in the training sessions of the VR46 Riders Academy.
But be careful not to make the mistake of underestimating Quartararo, because the World Cup leader has already shown what he is made of in Austria. On a track that had to be anything but favorable to his Yamaha, he took a second place that allowed Bagnaia to recover only 5 points. At Misano he has always been strong in the past, so he will certainly be one of the special observers and the Ducati army will have to “mark” him with which.
It is also true that at this moment there is a lot of talk about the Bagnaia-Quartararo dualism, but Aleix Espargaro is always in the running for the title. Indeed, the Aprilia standard bearer is the direct pursuer of “El Diablo”, even if in the last few races he has seen his gap rise to 32 lengths and Misano does not seem to be the most suitable track for the RS-GP. The Spaniard, however, has accustomed us to never giving up, so considering him out of the game would be a mistake.
Once the weekend is over, on Tuesday and Wednesday, there will also be two days of very important collective tests, in which many brands could bring the base of next year’s bikes to their debut. Among other things, even if there is still no confirmation in this sense, this two days could see the return of Marc Marquez in the saddle, given that the Honda rider has obtained the green light from the doctors to return to training normally and therefore also in motion after the fourth operation on his right arm last June.
Below, here is the program of the Misano weekend, with everything you need to know also regarding the television programming and the live shows of Motorsport.com.
Jack Miller, Ducati Team
Photo by: Dorna
MotoGP 2022: the times of the San Marino Grand Prix (Italian time)
For the Misano weekend the format will be the traditional one of the European rounds of the MotoGP, with MotoGP straddling the two training classes on Friday and Saturday and then competing at 2pm on Sunday. The Romagna will be a very important stage for the MotoE, because it is the last double appointment of the season, which will therefore designate the 2022 champion.
Friday 2 September
FP1 MotoE: 8: 25-8: 45
FP1 Moto3: 9: 00-9: 40
FP1 MotoGP: 9: 55-10: 40
FP1 Moto2: 10: 55-11: 35
FP2 MotoE: 12: 35-12: 55
FP2 Moto3: 13: 15-13: 55
FP2 MotoGP: 14: 10-14: 55
FP2 Moto2: 15: 10-15: 50
MotoE qualifications: 16: 50-17: 20
Saturday 3rd September
FP3 Moto3: 9: 00-9: 40
FP3 MotoGP: 9: 55-10: 40
FP3 Moto2: 10: 55-11: 35
Moto3 qualifications: 12: 35-13: 15
FP4 MotoGP: 13: 30-14: 00
MotoGP qualifications: 14: 10-14: 50
Moto2 qualifications: 15: 10-15: 50
Race 1 MotoE: 16:15
Sunday 4th September
Moto3 Warm-Up: 9: 00-9: 10
Moto2 Warm-Up: 9: 20-9: 30
MotoGP Warm-Up: 9: 40-10: 00
Moto3 Race: 11:00 am
Moto2 race: 12:20
MotoGP race: 14:00
Race 2 MotoE: 15:30
MotoGP 2022: how can I see the San Marino GP
Sky Sport MotoGP HD (Sky Channel 208) and Now: full live coverage of all the weekend sessions with the exception of free practice sessions for the MotoE.
TV8 HD (digital terrestrial channel 8): direct qualifying (with the exception of those of the MotoGP) and races of all classes.
MotoGP 2022: Motorsport.com LIVE for the San Marino GP
Saturday 3rd September
FP4 and MotoGP Qualifying: from 13:00
Sunday 4th September
MotoGP race: from 13:30
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