Marco Bezzecchi left Misano without points despite starting the San Marino Grand Prix from pole position. The Aprilia rider had set a new qualifying lap record, but Marc Marquez had beaten him in the sprint. Bezzecchi moved into the lead at the start of Sunday’s race; his challenge ended at Turn 13 on the opening lap.

Bezzecchi rejected the suggestion that the pressure of racing at home contributed to the fall. He instead described it as his mistake and a loss of the front. A small moment through the fast section before Turn 13 unsettled the bike and left him away from the ideal line as he approached the braking zone.

He also pointed to the full fuel tank, which required more careful management of the braking point. The retirement was Bezzecchi’s fifth Sunday non-score of the season and his fifth across the last seven rounds. Marquez’s victory, together with Jorge Martin’s fifth place, put Marquez at the top of the standings and left Bezzecchi 33 points behind.

A rapid turnaround to Spielberg

Bezzecchi said the crash did not appear to have aggravated the injuries he suffered in Germany, while stressing that he would assess himself more clearly once the adrenaline had faded. The next race follows within days: the Austrian Grand Prix at Spielberg. His immediate plan is to reset, work in the gym and shift his attention to the next round after a home weekend that began with pole position and ended with another Sunday scoreless result.