Misano MotoGP: A fan’s diary

What was it like to be a fan at the MotoGP race at Misano?  We asked one lucky Italian to write a diary for us covering aspects from the Practice, Qualifying, Sprint Race and Main Race!

Let’s find out what happened and what he said about it


Practice

Yamaha V4

For countless years the Yamaha V4 folklore has been spoken about around campfires throughout New Mexico.  Some claim they’ve seen it as a blinding disc of rotating lights defying physics in the midnight sky.  Others claim it also involved an anal probe – although that was probably just Sete Gibernau.

But in Misano the fabled machine became reality in front of our very eyes with all the aura of a used SCART cable.  And what an ugly bastard the new V4 was – resembling a paper jam in a 3D printer.

But who cares if it looked rubbish?  Was this the answer to Yamaha’s problems of the last three decades?  Maybe.  Augusto Fernández was given the task of riding around on the new machine and not falling off.  A mission that he 50% completed.

 

Misano fan diary entry:

“I don’t care about any Yamaha unless Vale is riding it.”


Marc not always fastest

In practice Marc Marquez started topping the timesheets sporadically but wasn’t showing the usual dominance of previous weekends.   Indeed the hated Spanish Antichrist never looked in total control with the VR46 Neverland Academy riders proving to be as strong as their main rival.  Even the mentally-defeated Bagnaia himself looked less dog turd than usual.

Were the academy riders over performing in front of their demi-God on home soil?  Or was it due to the fact they’ve all completed a quarter of a million laps of the circuit off-season?  Who knows but the audience optics were looking promising.

 

Misano fan diary entry:

“The Vale academy riders are the best in the world – and only Vale has the skills and personality to create this magical place.  And I definitely don’t believe the other rumours.”


Qualifying

Bezzecchi on pole

To the absolute joy of the record crowd the mullet-clad Italian Marco Bezzecchi stole pole on his Italian Aprilia.  A sensational lap – unless you’re Jorge Martin.

 

Misano fan diary entry:

Mamma mia! Marco, our Italian stallion, left Marc in the dust! With a pizzazz only an VR46 student could muster, he danced through the corners like a plate of spaghetti twirling on a fork. Bellissimo, Marco, you make us proud!


Marc fourth on the grid

Meanwhile Marc could only manage a laughable fourth on the grid and was clearly feeling the pressure of camp-Italians waving their fists and linguine around.  At least according to the internet.

 

Misano fan diary entry:

“Fourth?  Dio mio, what’s next, he forgets how to make paella?  His brother can’t help him this time?”


Sprint Race

Bez leads

From pole Mullet Bezzecchi leapt off the line like he was being chased for a kiss by his least favourite, wart-encrusted nonna.  Marquez Snr made quick work of the riders between him and Bez thanks in part, if you believe the yellow fans, by his younger brother giving way to him.

 

Misano fan diary entry:

“Marco is a true Vale rider.  I’ve always believed in him.  Stupendo!”


Now Marc leads

However…as so often (or should that be every time?) in Sprint races the joker-faced Spaniard found an opportunity to muscle his way into the lead to the absolute horror of the grandstands.

 

Misano fan diary entry:

“Marco isn’t a true Vale rider.  I’ve never believed in him.  Anyway I didn’t see the move or care.  I was too busy writing a hate email to Ducati for being traitors to our country and hoping their pasta is always vastly overcooked.”


Marc crashes

Wait what?  The sprint race king crashes out whilst leading?  In front of the Italians?  Amazingly it happened!

Having done all the donkey-work a lapse of concentration saw the donkey-working Ducati rider take a lowside into the gravel.

 

Misano fan diary entry:

“Fantastico! We all cheered and hugged each other.  The only fly in the passata was that Marquez wasn’t seriously injured.  But there’s always tomorrow!”

 

 


Rossi laughs at Marc crashing

A somewhat controversial video then emerged of Valentino Rossi himself enjoying his hated enemy’s misfortune…

 

Misano fan diary entry:

“Vale shows why he’s the greatest GOAT of all time”


Bez wins

With the Aprilia second-string rider now free of the devil Marco eased his way to the line to take a glorious sprint win – his first since…errr…his last one was (I can’t be bothered looking it up).

 

Misano fan diary entry:

“I love this sport!  MotoGP is in our Italian blood and it’s what we all give our hearts to.  What a beautiful sight to see!  Also Bezzecchi won – that was quite good too.”


Bagnaia rubbish

Despite his less-than-usually-spewage start to the weekend Bagnaia resorted to his factory-preset setting off being absolutely ghastly.

 

Misano fan diary entry:

“Marquez has sabotaged the bike to stop poor Pecco winning.  But I don’t care about him or Ducati – unless it’s a VR46 Ducati”


Main Race

Bez leads

Once again Bezzecchi converted his pole to lead the race.  And once again Marquez followed.

 

Misano fan diary entry:

“Marco is a true Vale student.  This is why Vale is regarded by all as the best.  Marc has nothing for him today and I just hope he crashes in front of us this time.  Especially if it’s into something solid.”


Marc leads

And once again Marc took the lead from the Aprilia rider.

 

Misano fan diary entry:

“Marco is no true Vale student.  He should have crashed Marc off the track for being a cheat. Preferably into something solid.”


Bagnaia crashes

Remember that Bagnaia guy?  He was once unbeatable around Misano.  However with his huge mechanical advantage gone and a competent team-mate for once the shamed Italian fell off whilst mid-pack.

 

Misano fan diary entry:

“Pecco’s crash is all Marquez’s fault for not being able to develop a bike and stealing the best parts in the garage.”


Marc wins

Despite a strong effort from the Aprilia rider inevitability kicked in and Marc won.  Again.

 

Misano fan diary entry:

“I’m not bothered about MotoGP.  It’s boring now.  It’ll never ever be as popular as when Vale was riding.  And everyone in this record-sized crowd agrees.


Marc strips off on the podium

Rather bizarrely, and much to the delight of the aforementioned Sete Gibernau, Marquez decided to take his leathers off on the podium and dangle them in front of his danglers to signify he was Ducati ‘red’.  Or at least that’s what we think he was doing it for.

 

Misano fan diary entry:

“Marc will never be a ‘red’ rider.  Red riders are only Italian.  And Ducati are traitors to our land for hiring him.” 


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Misano crowd cheering

What's your view of the Italian fans cheering Marc's crash?

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