From tapas to pizzas, from Sangria to that famous orange aperitif drink, from the Mediterranean sea to the Adriatic coast, from the home of Spanish riders to the turf of the Italians… Welcome to a new race week as Red Bull KTM Tech3 is settling down at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli for round 16, the Red Bull Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera, the final round in Europe before MotoGP™ hits the end-of-season overseas tour!

Grand Prix of San Marino and The Rimini Riviera

Arriving on home turf after clinching his first KTM podium on Marquez brothers’ lands, Enea Bastianini, native of Rimini, will be excited to race at home this weekend, all boosted by his performance just a few days ago in Catalunya. After a solid top 5 in Saturday’s sprint, ‘Bestia’ took his awaited maiden podium with the Red Bull KTM Tech3 team on Sunday. Since returning from the summer break, the Italian had made a clear step but somehow the progress still had not turned into real results… until Catalunya last Sunday. Now, the number 23 will just want to keep it going, and doing it again at home in front of family, friends and local fans will be the target for Bastianini. Enea took the 3rd place of the 2024 San Marino GP edition, and then he won the Gran Premio dell'Emilia-Romagna just a few days later, so we know it is a track where the KTM Tech3 rider can perform! Let’s say that the hardest is behind Maverick Viñales, who completed his first full race weekend at the Grand Prix of Catalonia since his shoulder injury two months ago. The Spaniard will continue his recovery this week with a new race weekend, as he progressively works his way back to full shape. Again, it will be important for the number 12 to take it step by step, so let’s see how it goes for 'Top Gun' at the San Marino GP, who completed Barcelona’s race with points and a 13th place.

Soooo, the Red Bull Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera is promising to be hectic, with many Italians – including our own Enea Bastianini – eager to take the crown on home soil, while Marc Marquez will be looking to capitalize big points to give himself the chance to clinch the title in the next round in Japan on his old manufacturer’s lands. Some stories are just meant to be, aren't they? Anyway, the action of the last round in Europe before the flyaway races will kick off with Free Practice 1 at 10:45 (UTC+2), followed by Practice at 15:00, with the first ten Q2 tickets on the grab. On Saturday, Free Practice 2 will launch Super Saturday at 10:10, followed by the qualifying sessions, just before Bastianini and Viñales line up on the grid for the Tissot Sprint at 15:00. On Sunday, the best riders of the world will fight for the 25 points at stake, with the main race starting at 14:00, for 27 laps.

ENEA BASTIANINI: "I am super excited to head to Misano for my home race, I love this round a lot, and we have the confidence from our first podium of the season in Catalunya. All Italian riders know the Misano track by heart, we all train there together during the summer and winter breaks, so it is going to be a competitive weekend. However, I think that we have potential to do a strong result, so let’s see how the weekend goes, and let’s enjoy it!"

MAVERICK VIÑALES: "Barcelona was tough for us, because we obviously want more, but we have to listen to our body at the moment. We need to accept that we are still recovering, and it is already a great gift to be back in action with the team honestly. We will continue the work this week in Misano, step by step as we progressively get stronger and stronger. Let's enjoy this week in Misano, it's a great circuit, and I am looking forward to it!"

NICOLAS GOYON, Team Manager: "It is San Marino time, the last round in Europe before the traditional tour in Asia! This weekend is always followed by the last test of the season, and it is often the opportunity to get a taste of the next season's bike, which is always exciting. In the opposite of Barcelona, Misano is defined by its high level of grip and it also has one of the highest speed corners of the championship, very much liked by riders. It is not often, but this year, our team is approaching San Marino with a local hero, with Enea Bastianini born and bred in Rimini, and he still lives in the area. Misano is a track where he trains a lot, so he knows it by heart, he has always been fast here, and he is arriving with the confidence from his first podium of the season, so it is certain that he will be competitive in front of his home crowd, we are excited to see what he can do with his KTM. Maverick Viñales is recovering step by step, after performing a full weekend in Catalonia and scoring points. All he needs now is time to get back to full fitness, because he proved in Barcelona that he has the speed, so let's see how his body adapts to Misano track."

ABOUT THE TRACK

Close to the city of Rimini, the Misano Adriático circuit was constructed in 1972 and has since undergone an array of modifications. A regular scene for Italian Grands Prix throughout the 80s and early 90s, Misano returned to the MotoGP™ calendar in 2007. With updated facilities, track and grandstands, the renamed Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli holds a maximum capacity of 60,000 spectators. In accordance with MotoGP™ safety regulations, the 4,200m track runs clockwise for the World Championship races.

TRACK RECORDS

All Time Record: 2024 - F. Bagnaia (ITA) - 1'30.031 - 168.9 km/h
Best Race Lap: 2024 - F. Bagnaia (ITA) - 1'30.877 - 167.4 km/h
Best Pole: 2024 - F. Bagnaia (ITA) - 1'30.031 - 168.9 km/h
Top Speed: 2023 - M. Bezzecchi (ITA) - 305.9 km/h