Galvanized by the over 187,000 spectators at the Catalan GP, MotoGP returns to Italy for the second time in 2025, even though the 16th round is titled the San Marino and Riviera di Rimini GP.
Last year, the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli hosted two GPs in September, the second one replacing the Kazakhstan GP. In total, 31 GPs have been held on this track: 3 Emilia Romagna GPs, 7 Italian GPs, and 21 San Marino GPs.
The GP data
According to Brembo engineers who work closely with all MotoGP riders, the 4.226 km Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli is classified among the highly demanding circuits for braking systems.
On a scale from 1 to 6, it scores a difficulty index of 4, with 11 braking zones per lap: 3 in the High category, 6 Medium, and 2 Light, for a total of 28.5 seconds spent braking. Throughout the race, each rider will exert an overall brake lever load exceeding 1.1 tonnes – the second-highest figure of the season after the Austrian GP.
The toughest corner
The most demanding corner for braking at Misano is Turn 8: MotoGP bikes decelerate from 296 km/h down to 80 km/h in 4.5 seconds over a distance of 212 meters, while riders apply a 5.3 kg load on the brake lever.
Deceleration peaks at 1.5 g, Brembo brake fluid pressure reaches 11.4 bar, and the carbon discs reach temperatures of up to 710 °C.
Marc slowed by Alex
Due to his second-place finish at the Catalan GP last Sunday behind his brother Alex, Marc Marquez will not be able to clinch the World Championship at Misano.
To do so, he would have needed at least a 185-point lead over his closest rival, while the margin stands at “only” 182 points.
For Marc to have a match point in Motegi, he must have at least a 148-point lead over Alex by Sunday evening, meaning he can afford to lose 34 points: thus, a 13th-place finish in the main race will suffice. Hardly a case of pulling the handbrake.
Ducati's magnificent seven
Last Saturday at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Ducati clinched its 7th Constructors’ title in MotoGP, the 6th consecutive one.
The last manufacturer to secure six consecutive titles in the premier class was Honda from 1994 to 1999, also equipped with Brembo brakes. In 2026, Ducati will aim to match Suzuki, which won seven consecutive 500cc championships from 1976 to 1982.
Ahead of them remains only MV Agusta, unbeaten for eight years, from 1958 to 1965. Brembo has been a key part of every Ducati triumph, supporting the Borgo Panigale manufacturer since its debut in 2003.
Mr. Smith's courage
Ten years ago, the San Marino GP witnessed the near-complete elimination of the disadvantage that carbon brakes had suffered compared to steel brakes in wet conditions.
When it started to rain, the riders returned to the pits to switch bikes, opting for the wet-weather bike with steel brakes. The only one not to stop was Bradley Smith, who, despite the drop in temperatures, crossed the finish line in second place thanks to the proper functioning of his Brembo carbon brakes.
Also at Misano, two years later, came the first MotoGP victory on carbon brakes in wet conditions. Marc Marquez, in fact, won the 2017 San Marino and Rimini Riviera GP with Brembo carbon brake discs despite the rain during the race. In second and third place were Petrucci and Dovizioso, who had instead opted for Brembo steel brake discs.
A victory that would have been unimaginable just a few years earlier, breaking the old dichotomy of carbon for dry conditions and steel for wet. What made it possible was the sensational improvement in Brembo’s carbon discs in recent years, thanks to increasingly precise manufacturing processes and the use of materials far more advanced than those in the first carbon discs. This result confirms Brembo’s commitment to technical innovation.
Today, even in the rain, carbon has become the standard, thanks to material improvements and protective covers.