First-Timer Guide
Your first Grand Prix of San Marino at Misano — here's what to expect
Weekend Structure
Friday — Practice
- — Moto3 Free Practice
- — Moto2 Free Practice
- — MotoGP Free Practice 1 (FP1)
- — MotoGP Practice
Quietest day of the weekend. Use it to walk the 10-20 minute route from your transport drop-off to the gates and decide whether you want a covered grandstand or an open one before ticket regret sets in.
Saturday — Qualifying + Sprint
- — Moto3 Qualifying + Race
- — Moto2 Qualifying + Race
- — MotoGP Qualifying
- — MotoGP Sprint Race
The sprint race is half-distance but counts for championship points. Gates are listed as opening around 07:00 — confirm before travel.
Sunday — Race Day
- — Moto3 Race
- — Moto2 Race
- — MotoGP Warm-Up
- — MotoGP Race
Gates are listed as opening earlier on Sunday, around 06:30 — confirm before travel. There is no circuit parking, so build shuttle or bus time into your morning on top of the gate time, not instead of it.
The Three Classes
A MotoGP weekend features three racing classes. Each has its own practice, qualifying, and race sessions.
Moto3
250cc single-cylinder bikes, top speed ~250 km/h. The junior class — riders are often 16-20 years old. Close racing, big slipstream battles, and frequent lead changes.
Moto2
765cc Triumph triple-cylinder engines. The feeder class to MotoGP. Riders here are the future MotoGP stars. More power than Moto3, fewer electronics than MotoGP.
MotoGP
1000cc prototype machines making 250+ horsepower. Top speeds over 350 km/h. The pinnacle of motorcycle racing, run on a tight technical layout hugging the Adriatic coast.
Misano-Specific Tips
There is no parking at the circuit
Unlike most rounds on the calendar, Misano World Circuit has no dedicated car park. Official and tourism-board guidance is to drive to Rimini or Riccione and cover the last leg by shuttle, bus, or the little train from the Simoncelli roundabout. Plan your last-mile transport before you plan anything else.
You will walk 10-20 minutes from transport to the gates
Whichever way you arrive — train, shuttle, or bus — expect a 10-20 minute walk from the drop-off point to the circuit entrance. Comfortable shoes matter more here than at circuits with closer transport links.
Arrive with the shuttle queue in mind, not just the gate time
Gate times are listed as around 07:00 Friday and Saturday and 06:30 Sunday, closing around 19:30 — confirm these before travel. Whatever the confirmed time turns out to be, remember it does not include the shuttle, bus, or little-train journey from Rimini or Riccione beforehand.
Phone signal can get congested
As with any MotoGP weekend, a big crowd funnelling through a single shuttle corridor puts pressure on local cell towers. Download offline maps of the Rimini-Riccione-Misano area before you arrive and agree a physical meeting point with your group.
This is a genuine home race, twice over
The circuit is named after Marco Simoncelli, who grew up in nearby Coriano and died racing in 2011. It also sits a short drive from Tavullia, Valentino Rossi's hometown. Both connections give the weekend a strong home-crowd atmosphere — expect flags, tributes, and passionate local support.
Pick your grandstand with shade in mind
Grandstand C at Curva del Carro is covered; the grandstand overlooking the end of the main straight near Curva del Rio is not. With September sun still strong on the Adriatic coast, that trade-off is worth thinking about before you book.
Most fans treat this as a beach weekend with a race attached
Rimini, Riccione, and Cattolica are all seaside towns on the Adriatic coast, and the standard pattern is booking a beach hotel or B&B and building the race around a longer coastal stay — not the other way around.
Misano Is Not Just a Race
The Grand Prix of San Marino sits on the Adriatic coast between Rimini and Riccione, named after a rider whose story is still felt across the region. Most fans build a beach holiday around the race rather than a race-only trip — that combination, plus the Simoncelli and Rossi connections, is what makes this weekend distinct.
Tavullia — Valentino Rossi's hometown
The circuit is a short drive from Tavullia, where Valentino Rossi grew up. It's a natural pilgrimage stop for fans on a non-race day, and part of why the region has such a strong motorcycling identity beyond the circuit itself.
Coriano — Marco Simoncelli's hometown
The circuit carries Simoncelli's name because he grew up in nearby Coriano before his death racing in 2011. The connection is felt throughout the weekend, from tributes around the circuit to the emotional tone of the crowd.
The Rimini pedestrian zone on Saturday night
Rimini's pedestrian zone has a notably good pre-race atmosphere on Saturday evening, between the sprint race and Sunday's main event — a solid option if you want a taste of the city beyond the seafront.