MotoGP | SanMarinoGP | Preview
As the 2020 season unfolds and the MotoGP circus rolls into the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, we look forward to a weekend of thrills and spills in Italy.
After a thrilling #StyrianGP, we head into this weekend’s #SanMarinoGP with just 35 points separating the top 10 riders in the MotoGP championship.
The most successful manufacturer at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli has been Yamaha with 6 wins, followed by Honda with 4 wins and Ducati with 2 wins. Yamaha’s last win was during the 2014 season, as Rossi took victory. Ducati’s Dovizioso took victory in 2018, with Honda’s Marquez winning in 2019.
During the 2017 #SanMarinoGP, 3 Italians finished in the top 5, all aboard Ducati machinery. This was the first time that 3 Italian riders on Italian motorcycles finished in the top 5, since Imola 1972, when Agostini and Pagini were 1st and 2nd respectively aboard MV Agusta, whilst Spaggiari placed 3rd aboard a Ducati.
As Suzuki have been growing in stature this season, fighting at the front and showing themselves as real competitors for the championship they will be looking to repeat their form from the beginning of the season. At the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Suzuki’s best finish came in 2007, with Vermulen and Hopkins finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively, however in 2018 Rins had a strong race, finishing 4th.
Double race winners, KTM’s best finish has been 7th, with P. Espargaro in 2019, however with their momentum over they last races they will aim to better this during this race weekend.
Aprilia’s best finish at the #SanMarinoGP came in 2016, with Bautista who finished 10th.
The inaugural #StyrianGP did not disappoint, the 900th premier class race, and Oliveira’s 150th GP start, it seemed the stars aligned as he became the first Portuguese race winner in history, making them the 20th nation to have enjoyed a Premier class win. The #StyrianGP podium was the first time since 1973 that there has been no Japanese manufacturer on the podium. KTM’s Binder also won this season, which makes 2020 the 5th time in history that 2 nations have taken their maiden win.
Miller has shown himself as a serious championship contender over the opening rounds of the season, scoring his first back-to-back podiums, placing himself 3rd in the championship, just 14 points behind the leader, Quartararo.
As we enter the first of a double header at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, we look forward to a weekend of thrills, spills and battles, can Dovizioso knock Quartararo off the top step for the championship, or will Miller come out on top after this weekend?
