Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez of Ducati crashed from the lead of the Misano Sprint, as his streak of winning or finishing P2 in every Sprint in 2025 expired at the San Marino Grand Prix.
The 32-year-old has been almost unbeatable in Sprint Races since joining the factory Ducati team in the 2025 MotoGP season. But Marquez made a very rare mistake at Misano, as the Spaniard tucked the front wheel of his Desmosedici GP25 through the final turn and retired.
Marquez’s mistake meant Marco Bezzecchi won the Misano Sprint and sent the San Marino GP crowd wild, as an Italian won in Rimini. Marquez had won every Sprint other than when Alex Marquez won the Silverstone Sprint back in May, when the Ducati ace finished second.
Saturday also saw Bezzecchi score pole for the San Marino GP, but trying to attack early hurt the Aprilia rider’s tyre and it allowed Marquez to pounce. Bezzecchi struggled to turn his RS-GP25 as he adapted, so Marquez jumped at an opening for the lead at Turn 6 on Lap 6 of 13.
Mat Oxley urges MotoGP to reduce cornering speeds after Marc Marquez’s Misano Sprint crash
Yet Marquez would only lead the Misano Sprint until the final turn on L6, as the 2025 riders’ champion-elect tried to break away from Bezzecchi. The Cervera native carved out a 0.293-second lead at the front over the second half of the lap, but lost his front tyre through T16.
READ MORE: All to know about the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano, from history to stats
Seeing Marquez slide through the gravel trap and hit the air fence with the top of his helmet frustrated Mat Oxley. He believes Marquez’s crash in the Sprint at Misano showed the “most important” thing for MotoGP to change is to reduce the cornering speed that riders can hit.
Oxley said on X: “More and more riders and bikes making it to the barriers. When will those in charge work out that the most important thing to reduce for 2027 is corner speed?”
Marc Marquez followed Jack Miller in finding a barrier after crashing at the San Marino GP
Marquez is not the first rider to hit an air fence or a barrier at the 2025 San Marino GP after his crash from the lead of the Misano Sprint. Pramac rider Jack Miller buried his Yamaha M1 under the air fence at Turn 12 during FP2 on Saturday, after running through the gravel trap.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Marc Marquez from net worth to girlfriend
Honda rider Joan Mir also only just came to a halt before reaching the barrier at Turn 9 after he crashed during pre-qualifying practice on Friday, but his bike did reach the barrier. Turn 9 also has a reduced run-off area, due to it being the location for the long-lap loop at Misano.
MotoGP’s 2027 rules will not change the amount of run-off, and thus will not reduce the risk of riders reaching barriers after they crash. But the reduced amount of aero allowed with the 850cc bikes coming in two years might reduce the cornering speed that riders can achieve.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
