Watch MotoGP San Marino Grand Prix — Practice 2 Free.

What's at Stake

The Friday afternoon Practice 2 session at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli is one of the most critical hours of the weekend, as it directly determines which top ten riders secure automatic entry into Saturday's Q2 qualifying shootout. With the tight nature of the San Marino Grand Prix circuit making overtaking difficult during the Sunday race, securing a direct route to the front rows of the grid is essential for championship contenders looking to maximize their points haul. Failing to finish in the top ten forces riders into the unpredictable and highly competitive Q1 session, putting their entire weekend at risk.

Form Guide

Heading into the San Marino Grand Prix, the battle at the front of the grid remains incredibly tight, with Ducati's factory and satellite riders showing dominant pace on Italian soil in recent years. Misano is a familiar testing ground for much of the grid, meaning setup times will be minimal and lap times will be exceptionally close from the very first run. Riders who excel in high-grip, technical braking zones have historically carried the momentum here, while those struggling with rear-grip consistency will face an uphill battle to find the right balance before the afternoon clock runs out.

Key Players to Watch

• Francesco Bagnaia — The Italian powerhouse considers Misano his home turf and consistently sets the benchmark pace around these technical, high-speed corners.
• Jorge Martin — Known for his explosive single-lap speed, the Spaniard is always a favorite to top the Friday timesheets and secure an easy passage into Q2.
• Marc Marquez — With his masterclass ability to find grip in tricky conditions, the multi-time champion remains a major threat to the established order at this classic venue.

Prediction

Ducati's dominance on home soil is expected to continue, with Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin leading the charge to secure the top spots in this crucial session. Expect the final ten minutes to feature a flurry of soft-tyre time attacks, where Bagnaia's precise local knowledge will likely edge out the field for the fastest lap of Friday afternoon. Ultimately, the factory Desmosedicis will comfortably claim the majority of the direct Q2 spots, leaving the rest of the manufacturers scrambling to fill the remaining top-ten positions.