Suddenly drama struck and the fight was on with seven laps to go. Marini hit a false neutral into Turn 14, forcing him wide and his eight tenth advantage was gone. Bezzecchi swooped through, took the lead and it was role reversal at the front of his intermediate class scrap. Five laps remaining and Marini hit back as he smoothly went past under the brakes into Turn 8. Bezzecchi, however, was having none of it, diving straight back past.

Four to go and Marini tried something inventive through the opening corners but Bezzecchi read it and retook the lead. The term ‘teammates’ was being used in the loosest sense as the pair’s fight really started to heat up, signified by Marini getting the job done through the ultra-fast Turn 11. All of their squabbling was allowing Bastianini to suddenly creep into contention, something team boss Pablo Nieto knew too well as he clambered over pit wall to point out the looming Italian to his riders.

Just two laps were remaining and the top three were covered by 1.1 seconds, it really was anyone’s game. From a fairly flat encounter, were we going to be treated to an incredible sprint finish? Marini had other ideas as he put together a perfect penultimate lap before his cause was aided by a Bezzecchi incredibly hitting a false neutral of his own at Turn 14 that saw Bastianini move to within four tenths of his compatriot.

Marini stood firm on the final lap and the victory was his, with teammate Bezzecchi just doing enough to fight off the charging Bastianini. A second win of 2020 and more importantly for the Italian, now a 19 point title lead over Bastianini with Bezzecchi a further ten back in third.

Vierge came across the line in fourth after having the best seat in Misano throughout the final laps. Fernandez held off both Lüthi and Di Giannantonio to take the final top five place, ahead of arguably the ride of the day courtesy of Sam Lowes. The EG 0,0 Marc VDS rider will walk away from Misano with eight points after starting from pitlane and will no doubt be delighted that the intermediate class is back in just seven days’ time. Completing the top ten were Aron Canet (Oceanica Aspar Team) and Joe Roberts (Tennor American Racing).

So victory went the way of Marini on a day to remember for Italy as three flags drenched in green, white and red glistened in the San Marino sun. However, all three will be wary of an incredibly determined Brit who will be right in the mix now his pitlane penalty is out of the way.

Top 10:
1. Luca Marini (SKY Racing Team VR46)
2. Marco Bezzecchi (SKY Racing Team VR46) + 0.799
3. Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) + 0.897
4. Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) + 2.177
5. Augusto Fernandez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) + 8.307
6. Tom Lüthi (Liqui Moly Intact GP) + 9.046
7. Fabio Di Giannantonio (+Ego Speed Up) + 9.971
8. Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) + 16.485
9. Aron Canet (Oceanica Aspar Team Moto2) + 17.036
10. Joe Roberts (Tennor American Racing) + 17.209.

GRAN PREMIO LENOVO DI SAN MARINO E DELLA RIVIERA DI RIMINI

Moto2 Race Classification 2020.

Moto2 World Standing 2020