Qualifying and Sprint Race: Bezzecchi's Dominance
Saturday's action set a captivating stage for the main event. In a brilliant display of speed and skill, Marco Bezzecchi secured a stunning pole position with a time of 1m30.134s on his Aprilia. His performance was a huge boost for the Italian fans, who erupted with cheers as he put on a show. Sharing the front row with him were Alex Marquez on the Gresini Ducati and an impressive Fabio Quartararo on the Yamaha, a machine that has struggled at times this season. Championship leader Marc Marquez qualified in a close fourth, setting the stage for a dramatic sprint.
The sprint race itself was a story of two different fortunes. Marc Marquez, who had been on an incredible streak of eight consecutive sprint victories, looked poised for another win. However, a rare mistake saw him crash from the lead at Turn 15, ending his perfect run. This opened the door for Bezzecchi, who flawlessly took over the lead and powered his way to a brilliant home victory. Alex Marquez maintained his strong form to finish second, with Fabio Di Giannantonio rounding out the podium, much to the delight of the local fans.
---
Main Race: Marquez's Redemption and a Title-Defining Duel
Sunday's main race was a masterclass in championship-level racing. Bezzecchi once again got a fantastic start from pole, leading the pack and putting on a show for his home supporters. But Marc Marquez, fueled by the previous day's disappointment, was on a mission. He quickly worked his way up and locked onto Bezzecchi's rear wheel, setting up a nail-biting, race-long battle for the lead.
The two riders pushed each other to the absolute limit, with the gap between them often just a few tenths of a second. The tension broke on Lap 12 when Bezzecchi made a slight mistake, running wide at Turn 8. Marquez pounced on the opportunity, executing a clean pass to take the lead.
Once in front, Marquez switched from attack to defense. He rode with his characteristic precision, fending off every one of Bezzecchi's attempts to retake the position. Despite Bezzecchi setting the fastest lap of the race in a last-ditch effort, Marquez responded with his own blistering lap to seal the victory by just over half a second.
This was Marquez's 11th victory of the season, a result that cements his dominant position and brings him tantalizingly close to a seventh premier-class title. Alex Marquez had another strong ride, finishing a lonely but comfortable third to claim a double podium for the Gresini team. The race was also marked by several high-profile retirements, including a crash from championship contender Francesco Bagnaia, which further solidified Marquez's points lead. Other notable finishers included Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Di Giannantonio in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Overall, the 2025 Misano GP was a weekend of high stakes and high drama, demonstrating the fierce competition at the pinnacle of motorcycle racing.
