MotoGP title fight stays tight at Misano as Bagnaia chases Ducati mark
NXTbets Pro | Published On: September 10, 2026
Misano title fight
MotoGP heads to Misano for the Red Bull Grand Prix of San Marino at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, and the 14th round of the 2026 season arrives with the championship still tightly packed at the top. Jorge Martin leads the riders’ standings with 256 points, Marc Marquez sits 19 points back and Marco Bezzecchi remains in the same narrow cluster, with the three separated by 24 points. That margin keeps the pressure high as the series moves to Misano. Marquez comes in after scoring 37 points at Aragon and expects this venue to demand more from him than Aragon did. He also pointed to the track and Ducati fans as reasons he can push at his best. History gives him confidence. Marquez has won at Misano five times, including the 2024 and 2025 San Marino Grands Prix, and he arrives with another chance to trim the gap to Martin. Martin, for his part, came away fifth in both races at Aragon, but he has already shown he can handle Misano. He swept both the Sprint and the Grand Prix there in 2023. The Aprilia rider called the race special for the manufacturer and its fans, and he wants to keep improving while fighting for podiums on the RS-GP26.
Bagnaia record chase
Francesco Bagnaia will add another milestone to Ducati Corse’s history when he makes his 142nd MotoGP start for the team on Sunday. That appearance will move him past Andrea Dovizioso’s 141 starts and make Bagnaia Ducati’s all-time leader in MotoGP starts. The timing gives the race extra weight. Bagnaia also said Misano will be his final home race with Ducati, a detail that adds emotion to a weekend already loaded with significance for the Italian manufacturer and its riders. He has been open about recent struggles, but he said he is not giving up and will keep pushing in front of his home fans. That message fits the setting at Misano. The record will stand as a marker of durability and loyalty, but Bagnaia wants the weekend to mean more than a number. He enters the round looking for a strong response, and Ducati gets a milestone at the same time.
Bezzecchi homecoming
Marco Bezzecchi returns to his home circuit with momentum from Aragon. He finished third in both races there and now comes back to Misano while still recovering from the injury he suffered at Sachsenring. The homecoming matters for more than sentiment. Misano gives Bezzecchi a chance to build on the pace he showed at Aragon and to do it in front of familiar support. The circuit itself also sets a distinct test. It measures 4.23 kilometers, includes 16 corners and features Turn 11, the fast Curvone section that often stretches riders and bikes alike. The track asks for speed, control and confidence in quick succession. For Bezzecchi, that means a return to a place where every lap can matter, especially with the championship picture so close.
