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A 78th MotoGP victory, following a Lap 1 crash for the Aprilia star, sees the reigning Champion jump level on points with Martin as the sun sets on a seismic San Marino GP

102 points behind seven rounds ago. Now? The title race leader. After Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) crashed out of the lead on Lap 1 at the Red Bull Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera, reigning World Champion Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) capitalised to rise to the top of the MotoGP World Championship for the first time this season after collecting his 78th MotoGP victory. Down and out of contention after the Italian Grand Prix, the #93 said. Not anymore.

Second place went to Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), who came from P9 on the grid to push his elder brother all the way at Misano while sporting a beautiful Marco Simoncelli tribute livery at Gresini Racing’s home race, and joining the Ducati duo on the podium was the sublime Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), as pre-race championship leader Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) claims fifth to see the #89 head to Austria second overall – but level on points with the reigning Champion.

IMMEDIATE DRAMA: BEZ CRASHES ON LAP 1Unlike in Aragon, and unlike in yesterday’s Sprint, Bezzecchi fended off Marc Marquez into Turn 1 and held onto the lead. Marc Marquez kept P2 and didn’t get a sniff around the opening three quarters of the lap. That was until Turn 13, where the home hero, Grand Prix leader and championship contender, Bezzecchi, crashed on the opening lap.

Drama of the highest order. Bezzecchi’s front end cried no more, and Bez’s big chance to collect a crucial 25 points went begging. Thankfully the Italian was all OK, but it was another disastrous early crash for Bezzecchi. A monumental blow to his 2026 title hopes. And an absolute gift at Misano for Marc Marquez, who led, and teammate Martin, who was P2.

MARTIN ATTACKSWow. So, this left Marc Marquez fronting the field from title rival Martin, with just 0.4s splitting them on Lap 5. Acosta was embroiled in a proper ding-dong with Alex Marquez, with the latter eventually getting the better of his compatriot before setting off reeling in the top two.

Speaking of, Martin gave Aprilia something to cheer about on Lap 7. At Turn 4, Martin pounced up the inside of Marc Marquez to pinch the lead, and instead of having a bite back, the reigning World Champion now had Alex Marquez swarming all over his rear tyre. Was Tissot Sprint winner struggling in the early stages, or simply keeping a level head and remaining patient?

MARC MARQUEZ RESPONDS, MARTIN FALLS BACKAfter a few laps, it looked like we had an answer. The #93 set a couple of personal best laps to claw back the disadvantage, and sure enough, at Turn 6 on Lap 12, Marc Marquez snatched the race lead baton back off Martin.

And over the next couple of laps, Marc Marquez’s lead quickly crept up to 0.7s, and it then got worse for Aprilia and Martin because Alex Marquez made a Turn 6 move stick on Lap 14. The former Grand Prix leader was suddenly shuffled back to P3, and now, Acosta was rapidly approaching the podium party.

Acosta went from approaching the party to barging his way into it on Lap 16. Turn 8 the chosen passing spot for Acosta, who surged through to P3 to demote Martin off the podium. And the news was getting better for Marc Marquez, because his lead shot up to over a second after Alex Marquez was out of the saddle coming out of Turn 6, as the second BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP machine piloted by Fermin Aldeguer began to threaten Martin’s P4.

That threat became a reality, and again it was a Ducati being chucked up the inside of the Aprilia at Turn 6. And what did this mean? Marc Marquez and Martin were level on points at the top of the championship.

THE RUN TO THE FLAGMarc Marquez wasn’t fully comfortable at the front though. Alex Marquez chopped a few tenths off the lead to sit 0.5s off his older brother with five laps to go. Acosta wasn’t a million miles away in P3, 1.1s in arrears of Alex Marquez to be exact, and the KTM star was the fastest of the three too.

The gap with two laps to go? 0.5s. It wasn’t going to be enough for Alex Marquez to try and have a go at winning at Gresini’s home round, because the new World Championship leader, Marc Marquez, kept his cool behind enemy lines to win for the 78th time in MotoGP. A dream weekend for Ducati and Marc Marquez at Misano. And from down and out of the title race after his Le Mans crash, the reigning World Champion is back on top of the world for the first time since his 2025 title triumph. What a turnaround.

After his injury woes this season, Alex Marquez’s P2 and Sunday pace, on a day when they sported a special Super Sic-inspired livery, will feel particularly special. And what about Acosta? Riding the wheels and then some off the RC16 to back his Aragon GP podium with another at Misano, his fifth of the campaign.

YOUR POINT SCORERS AT MISANOAnother rider who's had injury trouble this year is Aldeguer, so the sophomore’s P4 at Misano was impressive. Martin crossed the line in P5 in a result that doesn’t read as a complete disaster, but it’s one that feels big in the context of the championship. Still, he’s level on points with Marc Marquez ahead of next weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, but there's not a shadow of a doubt that a response from Aprilia is needed - fast.

Elsewhere, Raul Fernandez (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) collected P6, Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) clawed his way back up to P7 after a tricky opening lap, with Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol), and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) closing out the top 10.

The remaining points went to Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in P11, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) in P12, Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) in P13, and Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Tech3) in P14.

Like Bezzecchi, Francesco Bagnaia’s (Ducati Lenovo Team) home Grand Prix ended in the gravel, as a disappointing Sunday unravels for the home faithful. Unfortunately, another weekend to forget for Pecco.

Moto2™: Gonzalez grabs momentum-shifting victory in dramatic Misano race

Will we look back on today’s Moto2 Grand Prix at Misano as the pivotal point in the 2026 title chase? Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) seized his opportunity by collecting a massive 25 points, as the championship leader clinched his first win since Hungary to turn the title race tide back in his favour. Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) finished P2 to return to podium ways, Barry Baltus (REDS Fantic Racing) bagged P3 despite a Long Lap penalty, as Turn 1 played host to Lap 1 drama involving the entire front row.

Immediately from lights out, your top three on the grid, Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP), Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Aspar European Privilege Team), and Angel Piqueras (QJMOTOR – Green Power – MSI), were on the floor at Turn 1. And unfortunately, it was the rookie who was at fault. Piqueras, who was late on the brakes up the inside, tagged Holgado’s rear wheel as the latter tipped into the apex, which sent both riders down, and in the wrong place at the wrong time was polesitter Agius. Three frontrunners out of contention at Turn 1. Thankfully all three were on their feet, but for Agius and Holgado, that was a massive blow to their chances of claiming the 2026 title – especially given how the race played out.

Where did that leave us then? Well, Veijer led from World Championship leader Gonzalez, with Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – Green Power – MSI) third. Meanwhile, Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) had made solid progress up to P8 on Lap 3, having started P14 on the grid after a six-place grid penalty.

Lap 5 then saw Gonzalez hit the front for the first time. A classic Turn 8 move saw the Spaniard carve past Veijer, as Baltus began dragging himself into the podium fight. The Belgian, who finished P2 at Misano last season, was soon past Ortola and into P3, and both Baltus and second place Veijer were keeping tabs on race leader Gonzalez.

On Lap 13, Baltus' progress was dented. The Belgian was handed a Long Lap penalty for exceeding track limits, and on Lap 16, he took it. And kept P3, but only just. Baltus was now under threat from Ortola, the progressing Guevara, and Alonso Lopez (ITALJET Gresini Moto2), with Italians Tony Arbolino (REDS Fantic Racing) and Celestino Vietti (Beta Tools SpeedRS Team) also lurking.

It left two at the front. Gonzalez vs Veijer for Misano victory honours. Gonzalez had a track limits warning, but a 1.6s gap with three to go looked like the title-chase leader had this one covered. And he did. A huge, momentum-shifting victory for Gonzalez, who beat Veijer by 2.4s to inject fresh life into his championship campaign.

Veijer returns to the podium for the first time since Jerez, and Baltus earns his first podium since the 2025 Malaysian GP despite his Long Lap penalty. Ortola battled hard to keep hold of P4, Arbolino produced a classy comeback ride to P5 from P16 on the grid, a season-best for Arbolino, and it was the Italian who passed sixth place Guevara on the penultimate lap to inflict more damage on the #28’s title hopes. P14 to P6 is a very commendable effort from Guevara, but it's crucial ground lost in the standings.

Vietti was seventh on home turf, with Lopez fading to P8 in the latter stages. David Alonso’s (CFMOTO Aspar European Privilege Team) early Turn 8 error meant the Colombian could do no better than P9, while Alex Escrig (KLINT Racing Team) rounded out the top 10.

32.5 points was the gap coming into the weekend between Gonzalez and Guevara; it’s now back up to 47.5 points. Agius’ huge dose of bad luck sees the Aussie drop to P4 in the standings, 83.5 points away from his teammate now, with Ortola’s P4 propelling the Spaniard to P3 overall.

Next up: Red Bull Ring next weekend. See you there.

Moto3™: Quiles denies Almansa in epic photo finish at Misano

Back-to-back victories since breaking his collarbone and now with a lead of over 100 points in the standings, there really is no stopping Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) as the Championship leader snatched victory in dramatic fashion at Misano. The San Marino GP in Moto3 had been led from the start by polesitter David Almansa (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) and despite the 20-year-old leading every corner of the GP, Quiles managed to blast past him on the run to the line. Finishing on the podium in third, Brian Uriarte (Red Bull KTM Ajo) had the best seat in the house as it unfolded in front of him.

Off the line and it was holeshot to the polesitter as Almansa hit the front from Uriarte whilst a fast-starting Quiles was briefly up into third place before Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) jumped ahead. It was a disaster for Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) who after starting 21st due to penalties, crashed on the exit of Turn 4 on the opening lap. He was able to rejoin but his Grand Prix was effectively over whilst later on Lap 1, Nicola Carraro (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Leo Rammerstorfer (SIC58 Squadra Corse) fell at Turn 14 – both OK but GPs over.

Back in the lead group on Lap 3 and Almansa was into his stride with the fastest lap of the Grand Prix whilst Quiles had muscled his way ahead of Perrone for third. Uriarte gave chase to the #22 out front whilst behind Perrone came Joel Kelso (GRYD Racing), Matteo Bertelle (LEVELUP-MTA) and Rico Salmela (Red Bull KTM Tech3). On Lap 5, Championship leader Quiles was on a mission as he copied his move from Perrone at Turn 13, this time on Uriarte to get into P2. A lap later, Bertelle gave the home fans something to cheer for as he got into P5 ahead of Perrone, who was dropping back after Kelso got him for fourth and soon, he was seventh with teammate Salmela picking him off on Lap 9.

Into the second half of the Grand Prix and there was now a clear battle for the win between Almansa, Quiles and Uriarte and another for P4 led by Bertelle after Kelso made a mistake and dropped to P7 at the start of Lap 10. Bertelle was soon picked off himself though with a mistake at Turn 14 on the same lap allowing Salmela to come through. Up in the podium battle, Uriarte picked Quiles’ pocket at Turn 4 on Lap 11 but two laps later, Quiles pounced at his trademark Turn 13. Two laps later, he was on terms with Almansa; a 1’40.366 not only giving him the fastest lap of the GP but putting him within striking distance of #22.

Four to go and it was the head-to-head we’d seen at Buriram, Goiania, Balaton Park and Aragon: Almansa vs Quiles. Championship leader vs rider who would be second in the standings provisionally and thus Quiles’ chief title rival. It was all building for a last lap showdown but Almansa stood firm through the first overtaking opportunities of Turn 1, Turn 4 and Turn 8. Ultra defensive through Turn 14 and into the last corner, Almansa cost himself drive on the run to the line and Quiles, having not led a single lap or even sector, pinched it from the #22 on the run to the line by 0.021s. 320 corners led by Almansa, only to be pipped in the final 200 metres or so to the line. The Championship leader extending his advantage in the standings but this time over Almansa who despite P2 on the road is P2 in the Championship. Uriarte completed the rostrum, the fourth of his rookie season.

Rounding out the order just behind, another top job by Bertelle sees him the first home-hero to take the chequered flag in fourth whilst Perrone, Salmela and Kelso were just behind. Adrian Cruces (CIP GreenPower) made it back-to-back top tens for the first time in his Grand Prix career with eighth, fending off Marco Morelli (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) and Casey O’Gorman (SIC58 Squadra Corse) completing the top ten.

Another head-to-head between the top two in the Championship but an eighth win of 2026 gives Quiles a lead of 107 points overall, whereas Carpe slips to third overall and is just five points ahead of his rookie teammate Uriarte behind. It’s shaping up nicely with just eight rounds remaining in 2026.

Moto3 Grand Prix results from Misano.