At Misano, the spotlight was meant to shine on Marco Bezzecchi. Fresh off a stunning Sprint victory on Saturday, the Aprilia ace looked destined to deliver a dream double in front of his home fans. For 11 laps, Bezzecchi led the San Marino Grand Prix, his RS-GP singing through the corners. But on lap 12, a single mistake flipped the script — and opened the door for Marc Márquez to snatch glory.
A Costly Error at Turn 8
The defining moment came at Turn 8. Bezzecchi admitted it was his own misjudgment under braking that proved decisive.
“It was tough in braking, especially because, when I tried the different compounds – the medium and the soft – in the rear, the only difference for me was in braking,” he explained to MotoGP.com After the Flag.
“With the soft, I had something more; it’s a similar sensation that I had already last year, but this year the difference was less, so I was really happy already, because last year I was, I think, the only one that couldn’t use the medium.
Then came the lapse.
“So, then, unfortunately, from Lap 8 or 9, I started to struggle in braking, and Marc [Marquez] was close. We were both on the limit, so it was difficult to understand where I could push more or try to carry on like this.
On that corner [Turn 8] I made a small mistake, but the bike made a strange movement. I didn’t want to lock the front, so I had to release the front brake a bit and go a little bit wide.
Because of this, Marc passed me.
Then, I said ‘Okay, now I try to stay close to him as much as I can to try to bounce back’. But it was not possible, unfortunately.”
Márquez, capitalizing instantly, surged ahead and never looked back — taking a commanding victory that left Bezzecchi wondering what could have been.
Positives Amid the Pain
Despite the heartbreak, the Italian chose to focus on the silver linings. Bezzecchi had not only grabbed pole but also won the Sprint on Saturday before pushing the reigning champion to the edge in Sunday’s Grand Prix.
“I think that, besides the victory, this is maybe the best race of my life,” Bezzecchi told TNT Sports.
“Because I was super competitive all the weekend – pole position, Sprint win, second place, but close to Marc, who is at the moment the strongest on the grid.
I’m very happy I gave my whole [effort]. I tried to give the fans the best show that I could.
I want to say thanks to them for the support. They’ve been amazing for me, and hopefully you enjoyed it. Thanks to everyone.”
His runner-up finish also meant Aprilia celebrated its first main race podium since Barcelona 2024, a milestone that buoyed team spirits despite the missed opportunity.
The Road Ahead – Eyes on Japan
The championship now moves to Asia, with the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi (September 26–28) looming as a potential title decider. Marc Márquez leads his brother Alex by 182 points, and with 185 points remaining after Motegi, a dominant weekend for Marc could seal his historic ninth world championship.
For Bezzecchi, the battle is still alive — not for the crown, but for pride and position. His consistency has drawn plaudits, with TNT Sports pundit Neil Hodgson praising the Italian’s resurgence. Bezzecchi now sits just eight points shy of Francesco Bagnaia in third, and his fighting spirit at Misano proves he’s ready to keep swinging.
