{"id":2100,"date":"2026-09-11T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/?p=2100"},"modified":"2026-09-11T13:34:34","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T16:34:34","slug":"bezzecchi-answers-marquez-at-misano-and-sets-up-potential-motogp-victory-fight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/motogp\/bezzecchi-answers-marquez-at-misano-and-sets-up-potential-motogp-victory-fight\/","title":{"rendered":"Bezzecchi answers M\u00e1rquez at Misano and sets up potential MotoGP victory fight"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">News Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Marco Bezzecchi beat Marc M\u00e1rquez by just 0.103s to lead Friday Practice at Misano.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>M\u00e1rquez had topped FP1 after a late exchange of fastest laps between the two championship contenders.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>With Bezzecchi showing strong pace despite his physical limitations, Aprilia and Ducati appear set for another close fight after Arag\u00f3n.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Marco Bezzecchi delivered an immediate answer to Marc M\u00e1rquez at Misano on Friday, beating the reigning MotoGP champion by just <strong>0.103s<\/strong> and offering an early indication that the fight for victory at the San Marino GP could become another Aprilia-Ducati duel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">M\u00e1rquez had the advantage in FP1, but Bezzecchi responded in the afternoon with a <strong>1:30.144<\/strong> to lead Practice. The pair traded blows across both sessions and were separated by little more than a tenth by the end of the opening day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was a significant start for Bezzecchi. The Italian remains physically limited following his recent injuries, but showed enough speed over Friday to suggest M\u00e1rquez may not have the straightforward weekend the Ducati rider enjoyed at Arag\u00f3n.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That possibility was already on M\u00e1rquez&#8217;s mind before arriving in Italy. <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/motogp\/marc-marquez-expects-misano-to-be-more-complicated-after-aragon-dominance\/\">The Spaniard acknowledged that Misano was likely to be &#8220;a little more complicated&#8221; than Arag\u00f3n<\/a>, where he won both the Sprint and Grand Prix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HR7SkXGXMAEEWpJ-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1020314503\" srcset=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HR7SkXGXMAEEWpJ-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HR7SkXGXMAEEWpJ-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HR7SkXGXMAEEWpJ-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HR7SkXGXMAEEWpJ-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HR7SkXGXMAEEWpJ-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/HR7SkXGXMAEEWpJ-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Marc M\u00e1rquez (Photo: Michelin)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">M\u00e1rquez nevertheless began Friday as the benchmark. He moved towards the front during the first half of FP1 before taking first place with a 1:31.468 during the closing stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bezzecchi immediately responded and the pair exchanged the top spot, but M\u00e1rquez ultimately won the first round by <strong>0.060s<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The pattern continued in Practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bezzecchi remained near the front even as \u00c1lex M\u00e1rquez, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Luca Marini and Pedro Acosta all featured at the top of the timing screens at different stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When the late time attacks began, M\u00e1rquez produced a 1:30.247 and appeared poised to complete Friday with another session-leading lap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bezzecchi had one final response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Aprilia rider went fastest with a <strong>1:30.144<\/strong>, beating M\u00e1rquez by 0.103s and securing direct passage into Q2 as the quickest rider of the afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"637\" src=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/55521975330_0d7225ddb9_h-1024x637.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1020314604\" srcset=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/55521975330_0d7225ddb9_h-1024x637.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/55521975330_0d7225ddb9_h-300x187.jpg 300w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/55521975330_0d7225ddb9_h-768x478.jpg 768w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/55521975330_0d7225ddb9_h-150x93.jpg 150w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/55521975330_0d7225ddb9_h.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Marco Bezzecchi (Photo: Michelin)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Friday alone does not make Bezzecchi the favourite for either race. M\u00e1rquez arrived at Misano after <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/motogp\/marc-marquez-passes-marco-bezzecchi-holds-off-pedro-acosta-and-sweeps-motogp-weekend-in-aragon\/\">sweeping the Arag\u00f3n weekend with victories in both the Sprint and Grand Prix<\/a>, and his ability to convert competitive race pace into victories remains one of Ducati&#8217;s strongest assets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Misano, however, has so far produced a much tighter picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bezzecchi was competitive through different phases of both Friday sessions rather than relying solely on a late qualifying-style lap. Racing close to home also gives the Italian another opportunity to turn Aprilia&#8217;s recent progress into a victory as the championship enters a critical phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The title situation makes the emerging duel even more important. Jorge Mart\u00edn arrived at Misano with <strong>256 points<\/strong>, 19 ahead of M\u00e1rquez and 24 clear of Bezzecchi. That means both Friday&#8217;s fastest riders have an opportunity to make significant gains on the championship leader this weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/motogp\/marc-marquez-is-19-points-behind-martin-can-he-take-the-motogp-lead-at-misano\/\">The margins are now small enough that M\u00e1rquez can leave Misano leading the MotoGP World Championship<\/a>, while Bezzecchi remains firmly in the three-way title fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00c1lex M\u00e1rquez added another Ducati near the front by taking third in Practice, only 0.185s behind Bezzecchi, reinforcing the strength of the Desmosedici package at Misano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The more intriguing question after Friday, however, is whether Bezzecchi can sustain his challenge when the weekend moves from outright pace to qualifying and race management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first answer comes on Saturday. MotoGP FP2 begins at <strong>10:10 local time<\/strong>, followed by Q1 at 10:50 and Q2 at 11:15. The 13-lap Sprint starts at 15:00.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who was fastest in MotoGP Practice at Misano?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Marco Bezzecchi led Friday Practice with a 1:30.144 for Aprilia, beating Ducati&#8217;s Marc M\u00e1rquez by 0.103s. \u00c1lex M\u00e1rquez finished third, 0.185s off the fastest time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can Marc M\u00e1rquez take the MotoGP championship lead at Misano?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. M\u00e1rquez began the San Marino GP weekend 19 points behind championship leader Jorge Mart\u00edn. With 37 points available across the Sprint and Grand Prix, the Ducati rider can mathematically leave Misano at the top of the standings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When are MotoGP qualifying and the Sprint at Misano?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Qualifying takes place on Saturday, September 12, with Q1 beginning at 10:50 and Q2 at 11:15 local time. The San Marino GP Sprint starts at 15:00.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Marco Bezzecchi and Marc M\u00e1rquez traded the fastest times throughout Friday at Misano before the Aprilia rider ended Practice just 0.103s clear of the Ducati<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1020314605,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"42wp_featured_image_caption":"Marco Bezzecchi","42wp_featured_image_credits":"Michelin","42wp_featured_video":"","42wp_ai_content_disclaimer":"","42wp_is_ai_content":false,"42wp_featured_image_hidden":false,"42wp_authors_list":[],"footnotes":"","42wp_hide_from_automatic":false,"42wp_breaking_news":false},"categories":[38],"tags":[104,173,32,323],"42wp_author":[140],"class_list":["post-2100","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-motogp","tag-marc-marquez","tag-marco-bezzecchi","tag-motogp","tag-san-marino-gp","42wp_author-kaio-esteves"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2100","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2100"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2100\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2101,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2100\/revisions\/2101"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1020314605"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2100"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2100"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2100"},{"taxonomy":"42wp_author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/42wp_author?post=2100"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}