Ducati star Marc Marquez touches down in Italy with a 182-point buffer at the top of the Riders’ Championship. “The Ant of Cervera” lines up as the defending champion at this circuit and is fresh off his 13th podium of the campaign. Marquez is the winningest rider this season and holds the all-time win record at this venue, with five titles. He ended a seven-race win streak last weekend, after being toppled by his younger brother. Alex Marquez earned his second MotoGP career victory, ending a shaky run that included a DNF, a 10th, and a 14th-place return. Alex has typically struggled on this asphalt, producing a best return of sixth on his last visit.

Ducati has enjoyed its trips to the Adriatic in recent years, prevailing in three of the last seven.  Francesco Bagnaia has contributed two victories to the cause in the last four years and finished second last time out. It looks like a long shot, as Pecco hasn’t stood on the rostrum since Germany. Consistency seems to be an issue for Maco Bezzecchi, who has three top-three finishes to his name in the last five starts and two DNFs. The KTM’s have started to find their rhythm late in the season, courtesy of Pedro Acosta, who’s posted four consecutive top fives, including two podiums.