Luca Marini kept Fabio di Giannantonio behind for 15 laps in the Misano MotoGP race, but a rear-tyre problem eventually decided their fight. Afterwards, Marini joked that the VR46 Ducati rider must “hate” him, because defending his position meant repeatedly closing every available line.

Marini’s defence was his only effective answer to di Giannantonio’s pace. The VR46 rider said he was also dealing with a brake problem and had been waiting for Marini to make a mistake instead of being able to use his speed freely. Despite the intensity of the contest, di Giannantonio described it as completely fair and said that Marini had been riding extremely well.

The balance changed with eight laps remaining. Marini reported that the rear tyre had spun on the rim and begun generating a major vibration. He could no longer lean the motorcycle in the same way and was effectively left without a response. Di Giannantonio then passed him easily, with Enea Bastianini’s Tech3 KTM following later.

Marini was nevertheless the only Honda rider to reach the finish. He crossed the line ahead of Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo and Red Bull KTM’s Brad Binder. Marini suggested that Misano’s high-grip surface, the hot conditions and the power of the 1000cc prototypes may have contributed to the tyre moving on the rim. He also said the tyres could not simply be blamed, because the demands placed on them are substantial.

Marini remained satisfied with his weekend, saying he had been faster than his team-mates on every occasion. His account presented the late change in the race as a consequence of the vibration rather than a decision to stop attacking: once the rear tyre problem appeared, the Honda no longer gave him the tools to maintain the same defence through the closing laps.