As we prepare for the Gran Premio Pramac dell’Emilia-Romagna, where season silverware is already up for grabs and plenty of extra bragging rights to race for, buckle up for more MotoGPTM. The most significant is the Constructors’ championship, which Ducati can finally win on Sunday thanks to their incredible performance thus far. With 222 being the magic number by the flag on Sunday, they lead KTM by 229 points and Aprilia by 239 points. Additionally, as it would be their 100th MotoGPTM victory, they could win it in style. There is a lot on the line between the two leading contenders for the title, Jorge Martin of Prima Pramac Racing and Francesco Bagnaia of the Ducati Lenovo Team, who are only separated by seven points. With so much at stake, a thrilling race is expected.

THE SHOW WILL GO ON

After his flag-to-flag gamble failed, Martin will want to make a significant impression on both the points and himself in order to widen the distance at the top. And for what lies ahead, including the Constructors’ Championship and that historic 100th MotoGPTM victory. If that’s not enough incentive, he would also like to win for his Italian team, the event’s title sponsor, by defeating the Italian riders on their home ground. Even though the weather didn’t throw any curveballs in 2023, he still thinks he won. Coming out swinging won’t likely cover it.

Bagnaia, meanwhile, has a larger lead to work with as the Championship lead has shrunk down to single digits. However, he also comes ready for his own historic moment: he and the Ducati Lenovo Team are making their 100th MotoGPTM start on home soil. Those accomplishments must also resonate with him, as he is their current and two-time World Champion. Constructors’ crown achieved on home turf in his 100th MotoGP™ race, by claiming Ducati’s 100th MotoGP™ win? The odds are in favour of Bagnaia if they can pull it off. Additionally, he will be nearer to full fitness this time around—something he hasn’t been at Misano since 2022.

Moving on to Marc Marquez (MotoGPTM Gresini Racing). He will be eager to begin signing some Ducati milestones before to the transition, as he has now been confirmed to be in the factory squad for the upcoming season alongside Bagnaia. Make them share that turf. He’ll also be keen to stop Bagnaia doing so as the two prepare to share a garage, and on the #1’s home ground. Marquez has now won two straight races; if he wins a third, it will be the first time since 2019 that he has won three or more consecutive MotoGPTM races. Additionally, it would increase his record as the current grid’s most successful rider at Misano. and further reduce the championship margin between the top two.

Then there’s the Ducati Lenovo Team’s Enea Bastianini. He’s had a 100% podium record in MotoGP™ races he’s started at Misano, which is no mean achievement. He is somewhat motivated by the same factors as his competitors, such as home field advantage, and it would be quite satisfying to win Ducati’s 100th MotoGPTM. He’s only nine points behind Marc Marquez in the championship bout, and he’s still very much in the running. The Jaws theme would only get louder for those he was chasing down if he qualified even higher.

ON THE CHASE

But as Saturday’s San Marino GP shown, there are a lot of competitors vying for the top four spots in the Championship. Throughout 2024, Franco Morbidelli of Prima Pramac Racing has been gaining ground, and he achieved his maiden Saturday rostrum finish last time out in the Tissot Sprint. On Sunday, he was likewise quick before losing it. In the GP race, Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) also finished in the top five and on the front row; however, on take two, his fortunes may be further improved with a stronger start. As we get back on track, teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio will have had more time to heal. Alex Marquez’s (Gresini Racing MotoGPTM) Sunday performance in San Marino was strong. Can they proceed now?

On Sunday, there was also good pace at KTM and GASGAS. Brad Binder of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Pedro Acosta of Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 both had strong sprints, with Binder finishing fourth. It will be intriguing to watch Acosta compete at a site for the second time in his debut season as he looks to reduce those errors. He had good results in the 2021 Doha Grand Prix.Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jack Miller had a great weekend as well, winning the Sprint and recording his best Sunday finish since Portimão. After a more difficult one at Misano on our first visit, more of that will be the Australian’s minimum goal, and more points will be the goal for Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3).

CHAPEAU!

Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGPTM) of Yamaha, on the other hand, has to be considered a contender for rider of the weekend after matching his highest Sunday result to date in 2024 and scoring in the Sprint to make it his equal best weekend for points. The Iwata factory and their 2021 World Champion both aspire to finish higher than seventh, but their previous world-beating form is developed – or reconstructed – over time. In addition to testing at Misano a few weeks ago and competing in the San Marino GP, Quartararo and teammate Alex Rins also gained further track time on Monday, when Quartararo finished sixth in the test. Can they, therefore, advance this time around?

BACK IN THE SADDLE

At Aprilia, too, progress is the goal while the Noale factory experiences a more difficult period of performance. This time around, the goal is definitely to get points, as neither Maverick Viñales nor teammate Aleix Espargaro of Aprilia Racing managed to do so at the San Marino GP. Additionally, they will be hoping that their work at the Monday Test, which is present-oriented, will contribute to improving those circumstances.Trackhouse Racing’s Miguel Oliveira, on the other hand, DID score five points on Sunday to finish as the top Noale machine. The factory riders will want to defeat him, he will want more, and teammate Raul Fernandez will want to retaliate.

At last, at Honda Joan Mir and Luca Marini of the Repsol Honda Team are experiencing their first full weekend at Misano. They both missed the last race due to illnesses, but they were able to return for the test on Monday, so maybe that will put them back in the running for the Grand Prix. Meanwhile, Takaaki Nakagami and Johann Zarco also had strong performances at IDEMITSU and CASTROL Honda LCR. Notably, their season totals are now equal, and Nakagami is leading the rankings as a result of his P11 performance in Aragon. They will seek to surpass the Repsol Honda team as well as one another in addition to continuing to log miles and add information to Honda’s mission in order to advance. With a complete lineup and following the Misano Test’s extended track time, what are their options?

This weekend, when an additional 37 points—and a whole lot more—come into play, we’ll find out.

SHOWTIME

Saturday

Tissot Sprint: 15:00 (UTC +2)

Sunday

Grand Prix: 13:00 (UTC +2)

What’s happening at the #EmiliaRomagnaGP?

Wednesday is the start of the Gran Premio Pramac dell’Emilia-Romagna festivities. In an effort to bring MotoGPTM even closer to our ardent Italian fan base, a fan event featuring prominent riders like Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team), and Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) will take place on Wednesday night in the heart of Rimini. Fans in attendance will also have the opportunity to ask questions.

The MotoGPTM podcast Last On The Brakes will have Franco Morbidelli of Prima Pramac Racing on Thursday afternoon.

The press conferences will then begin, with Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGPTM), Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team), Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), and Francesco Bagnaia hosting the first one.

Then, for the second race, Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGPTM) will join Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).

Moto2™: Can Ogura double down on take two?

With his third victory of 2024, Kai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) made sure he leads the Championship going into Round 14. After three tough races at Silverstone, Austria (where he suffered a fracture to his right hand) and Aragon, the Japanese driver was back on the box for the first time since his P3 in the German Grand Prix.

Ogura defeated teammate Sergio Garcia (Fantic Racing) by 0.6s to take a nine-point lead. Garcia’s weekend came to a close with an impressive comeback to P12 following a forgettable Friday and Saturday. At MT Helmets – MSI, the title race pendulum has undoubtedly swung from one side of the garage to the other. It will be interesting to watch how Garcia responds going forward.

After winning his second consecutive podium, Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) joined Ogura and Canet on the podium. After a challenging first half to the season, the Italian appears to be returning to his best, and another home race victory would be well appreciated before the flyaways commence.

In other news, Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) acknowledged that his P5 “felt like a win” after the Briton battled back from P14 on the grid to collect some more respectable points in his pursuit of the championship. Manuel Gonzalez’s P4 (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2TM) was a strong effort from the Spaniard.Furthermore, after his late crash on P4, local hero Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp), who dropped out of contention on Lap 1, will both be looking for revenge.

Keeping an eye on the dynamic Moto2TM title race scene is exciting. What will happen when we return to Misano?

Moto3™: Can the chasers keep up the pressure?

Last time out, we witnessed a Moto3TM return to remember as Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing) won spectacularly despite picking up two Long Lap penalties. The rookie’s debut triumph was exquisite, so will the #36 be able to go back-to-back when he arrives at the same place this weekend?

Piqueras will undoubtedly wish for this. His life will also be much easier if there aren’t any lengthy laps to deal with, but as we all know, that won’t be the case. Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 rider Daniel Holgado is one of the competitors who will be looking to prevent his countrymate from double up. With two podium finishes in his previous three races, the #96 has found his groove again, propelling the Spaniard up to P2 in the overall standings.

After a lacklustre performance in Aragon, Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) bounced back with his seventh podium of the year, defeating Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) by less than a tenth of a second. A frustrated David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) was passed by two riders on the final lap: the Japanese star and Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP’s Colin Veijer, who finished in fifth place, while the Colombian finished in P7 after receiving a drop of one position for going over the track limits in the same lap. For the first time this season, Alonso finished outside the podium in back-to-back races, which moved Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) up to P6.

Even yet, the #80 leads the Championship chase by a dominating 70 points, and he will be seeking retribution in Emilia-Romagna. Is he capable of recovering?