In the shadow of his bigger and more popular brother Mugello. This is the story of the Italian Misano circuit

Every circuit on the World Motorcycle Championship calendar has a story to tell. The Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, the site of the annual San Marino MotoGP Grand Prix, is no exception. But why does this track have a racer’s name in its name? And did you know that the career of one of the greatest riders in motorcycle grand prix racing ended at this circuit? Let’s take a look at the Misano circuit where the fastest machines on two wheels will be racing this weekend.

The origins of Misano

The circuit, which lies just a few metres from the shores of the Adriatic Sea, first appeared on the designers’ paper back in 1969. Over the next three years, the actual construction took place, after which the first races began immediately.

However, this was no breathtaking circuit with staggering elevation changes, spectacular corners and super-modern facilities. Nevertheless, the designers came up with an interesting and original idea for the time. Around the circuit, there was lighting that allowed racing even after the sun went down.

Misano, however, did not really come to the attention of the global motorcycling community until the early 1980s, when the World Championship of Road Motorcycles made its first visit to the circuit.

Not so happy moments in the circuit’s history

Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for the first major controversy to arise. Before the start of the 1989 Nations Grand Prix, riders complained about the track’s slippery surface. This was not helped by the rain, which arrived on the scene just moments after the start lights went out. The top drivers eventually boycotted the race after the event, but the Grand Prix went ahead without them.

Four years later, in 1993, world champion Wayne Rainey had a horrific accident in the first corner of the circuit (today’s last corner). He broke his back after a highsider, and his racing career came to an end.

After that, MS did not return to Misano for fourteen long years. Meanwhile, the new home of the Italian MotoGP Grand Prix was Mugello, which managed to build a huge fan following thanks to its track profile and which is still considered the most popular circuit among fans of the sport.

However, when MotoGP returned to the Adriatic coast in 2007, another tragedy occurred. During the 2010 Moto2 season, the young Japanese talent Shoya Tomizawa died here.

Tomizawa lost control of his motorcycle in a section of the circuit dotted with fast, tight right-hand corners. He was then unluckily hit by Scott Redding and Alex de Angelis.

In addition to the negatives and positives

Misano has witnessed some amazing royal-cubature racing. Let’s take a look at a few of them.

The 2015 San Marino Grand Prix first started dry, but after a few laps it started to rain. Everyone changed their bikes just fine. But within minutes, the rain stopped. Yamaha riders Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi delayed their return to dry the machine. In the end, they paid the price, with Rossi dropping to fifth and Lorenzo even crashing. The win went to Marc Márquez on the Honda.

Last year at Misano, the world champion was decided. Fabio Quartararo was almost certain of the title, it was just a matter of whether his nearest rival Francesco Bagnaio could delay his coronation.

However, it had to come down to Quartararo not finishing and Bagnaia winning. Neither happened, with the Italian crashing with four laps to go. With three races left in the season, Frenchman Quartararo was able to celebrate his maiden MotoGP championship title, which he can defend this year. He’s on course to do so.

Bonus information

Finally, are you one of the newer MotoGP fans? Wondering why the Misano circuit has had Marco Simoncelli’s name inserted into its official name since 2012? Well, know that this likeable Italian with the extravagant haircut died during the 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix after the front wheel of Valentino Rossi’s Ducati hit his head after a crash. Misano subsequently decided to pay tribute to the racer by adding Simoncelli’s name to its official name.

Below you can see the progress of the Misano track, which this weekend will welcome the fastest men on the world’s most sophisticated machines for the 17th time in the modern MotoGP era.

1972 – 1992 (3,488 km)

1993 – 2006 (4,060 km)

2007 (4,180 km; change of direction)

2008 – present

Sources: Misano Circuit, Racingcircuits.info