2019 MotoGP preview: Round 13, Misano

The MotoGP paddock arrives at picturesque Misano in Italy this weekend for round 13 of the championship.

One of the most spectacular stops on the calendar – and only 15 minutes up the road from Valentino Rossi’s home town of Tavullia – the San Marino Grand Prix also marks the business end of the season in many respects, with nine seven races to come in the next nine weeks.

Defending world champion Marc Marquez was the first to speak at the traditional press conference this week, and the HRC rider quickly watered down the fact he had missed out on two consecutive wins following last-corner passes in both Austria and Great Britain.

“Yeah of course it was not the best last corner for us, but anyway I’m happy because Silverstone was one of the circuits we struggled at a lot last year and this year we were there,” he said.

“Apart from that we have a good advantage in the championship, we need to be calm, try to finish races and see what happens in the future.”

The form guide in Misano suggests there will be plenty of riders vying for podium finishes, a factor reinforced by Yamaha’s performance during a recent mid-season test at the circuit.

One rider who will be looking to make amends is Ducati star Andrea Dovizioso. Sitting second in the championship, the Italian’s season was thrown into disarray last time out when he was taken out on the first lap by Petronas Yamahas’ Fabio Quartararo – the second time this season that Dovi’s race has thanks to no fault of his own.

“I feel good fortunately, we worked hard at home and we were able to complete the test, it was important to make a test before the race,” Dovizioso said.

“The feeling wasn’t perfect but it was important to do some laps. I feel good, I’m happy, I’m 100 per cent fit, I did some motocross just to be sure and I’m ready.

“Last year was good for us, we had a special race, but I’m expecting a different weekend this year. The competitors are very strong, in the test a lot of riders have good pace but the weekend is always different.

“And the conditions are maybe a bit different, we have to see the grip we can find because at the test it was different than last year. So we have to see, I think it will be important for every bike.”

All told, Dovizioso now sits 78 points adrift of Marquez courtesy of the first lap bungle in Silverstone. As always, the Italian is trying to concentrate on the big picture.

“I think my best way to make the best result is the same way I’m racing now. For the championship 78 points is a big gap, but it’s a bigger gap if you think about recovering the points to Marc.

"It’s not just about 78 points, there’s not a big reason to think about the championship. Especially because in some races we were quick and some not, so we have to improve those things.”

A race in Misano is all the more special with Valentino Rossi at the pointy end of the field. This year, the 40-year-old is full of confidence with the way his YZR-M1 has performed in recent outings, the Misano test included.

Rossi is searching for his first win in the MotoGP class since the Netherlands in 2017.

“For sure here in Misano it’s always a special Grand Prix, it’s really my home Grand Prix,” he said. “In the last races I was a bit better but in Silverstone after a solid weekend, in the race I wanted to fight for the podium but I was not strong enough. So we will try another time here.

"We did some testing, important testing, my pace was quite good, I feel quite well with the bike so we try, we are ready and we will see if we are strong enough to fight for the podium.”

Another potential contender in Misano is Suzuki’s Alex Rins. The Spaniard is full of confidence following his historic last-corner overtake of Marquez in the UK, securing his second win of the season.

“It was unbelievable to get the victory in Silverstone, especially for the battle with Marc. I saw the race six or seven times. After the victory I think we are a little stronger in the race, in the race I’m able to fight, and we arrive here after a good test.

"We found some things, two days of testing and our setup is more or less clear. But things will be difficult because all the riders are there and it’s a small track, so it will be a fun weekend.

“During all the Fridays we are trying to improve, to see the setup, do a lot of laps on the tyres. Now I’m ready to do one lap at the end of the championship, from this year it was more difficult. Silverstone wasn’t enough, we were in Q1, so I will try to be more in the top positions.”

As usual, Ducati’s Jack Miller will fly the Australian flag in Italy, coming straight for an intelligent ride in the UK, while Remy Gardner will be looking to make up ground in Moto2 following a string of crashes.

The MotoGP race will air live on 10 Bold from 9.30pm on Sunday, while Fox Sports will commence its coverage of practice from 6:00pm Friday.