The Misano circuit first hosted production-based racing in 1991 and has remained a fixture on the calendar ever since, with the exceptions of 1992, 2013, and 2020.
For fifteen years, the track ran counter-clockwise, but since 2007, the racing direction has been clockwise.
GP data
According to Brembo technicians working closely with 12 of the 14 teams on the Superbike World Championship grid, the 4.226 km Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli falls into the category of moderately demanding tracks for braking systems.
On a difficulty scale from 1 to 5, it scores a 3, despite featuring 10 braking zones per lap, half of which fall into the "High" category. However, only two of these require braking for more than 3.5 seconds. Over the course of a lap, WorldSBK riders apply their brakes for a total of 26.5 seconds.
The most demanding braking point at Misano is Turn 8, known as “Quercia.” Here, Superbikes shed over 200 km/h, slowing from 278 km/h down to 73 km/h in just 4.7 seconds, covering 213 meters in the process. Riders apply a force of 5.4 kg to the brake lever and experience a deceleration of 1.5 g, while brake fluid pressure peaks at 11.6 bar.
Twelve years in the making
Last year, Toprak Razgatlioglu claimed a hat-trick at Misano (Race 1, Superpole Race, and Race 2), his first with BMW, and surged to the top of the championship standings with a 21-point lead over Nicolò Bulega and a 24-point gap to Alvaro Bautista, who had been trading places at the top over the first three rounds.
A BMW rider hadn’t led the World Superbike standings since August 2012, when Marco Melandri won Race 2 in Moscow (Russia), overtaking Max Biaggi, who crashed out on Lap 10.
Melandri’s machine
In 2012, BMW entered the Superbike World Championship with a next-gen S 1000 RR, a new rider in Marco Melandri alongside Leon Haslam, and a new trackside operations manager, Andrea Dosoli.
The revised chassis improved the German bike’s handling, aerodynamics saw significant progress, and the electronics package was streamlined. Up front, the machine featured dual 4-piston calipers paired with 320 mm discs, while the rear ran a single 220 mm disc with a 2-piston caliper—all supplied by Brembo.
Braking then and now
Back in 2012, Melandri reached 280.2 km/h at Misano, but lap times hovered above 1’36”. Last year, Razgatlioglu topped out at 277.6 km/h, but clocked a blistering 1’32.320 in Superpole.
This time drop is a testament to the evolution of chassis dynamics and braking systems alike.
Compared to 2012, braking performance has notably improved—as evidenced by the increase in front disc diameter to 338 mm, aided by a caliper amplification system that generates additional braking force. Cooling has also seen gains thanks to cooling fins on the caliper body and ventilated rotors.