MotoGP Grand Prix of San Marino 2016: Race Schedule, Live Stream and Top Riders
Valentino Rossi desperately needs a win entering the 2016 MotoGP Grand Prix of San Marino, a virtual home race for the Italian who sits second in the standings.
Rossi trails Marc Marquez by 50 points after his third-placed finish at Silverstone, and as long as the Spaniard doesn't crash out of too many races and finishes consistently in the top three, the championship should be his.
Marquez took the win last year, breaking Yamaha's dominance at the track, via MotoGP's official Twitter account:
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But that race took place in tough, rainy conditions, and the fast Misano track should suit Rossi, who grew up in Urbino, Italy, and is almost a local. Here's a look at the race schedule:
| Friday, Sept. 9 | 9:55 a.m | Free Practice 1 |
| Friday, Sept. 9 | 2:05 p.m. | Free Practice 2 |
| Saturday, Sept. 10 | 9:55 a.m | Free Practice 3 |
| Saturday, Sept. 10 | 1:30 p.m. | Free Practice 4 |
| Saturday, Sept. 10 | 2:10 p.m. | Qualifying 1 |
| Saturday, Sept. 10 | 2:35 p.m. | Qualifying 2 |
| Sunday, Sept. 11 | 2 p.m. | Race |
Live streaming can be found at the BT Sport website (UK), beIN Sports CONNECT (U.S.) and FuboTV (U.S.).
Valentino Rossi
The 37-year-old only gained three points on Marquez in the British Grand Prix, finishing one spot ahead of the Spaniard. It was the kind of frustrating outcome the Italian has gotten used to this season, and with the gap between the two still sitting at 50 points, that likely won't change anytime soon.
Rossi needs wins more than anything, as he can't count on Marquez to crash out of races or make crucial mistakes―the 23-year-old's biggest asset is his consistency, and it's what has led him to two MotoGP world titles already.
Momentum is key in any race for the title, and the San Marino Grand Prix provides Rossi with the perfect opportunity to start a run. As he told MotoGP's official website, Misano is his track:
"Misano will be the most special weekend of the season, because Misano is "my race", it's my home. Usually we are quite good there, so we hope to be competitive. There will be a great atmosphere: a lot of fans, a lot of people around and also a lot of pressure, so we have to try to give 20 [per cent] more than the maximum!
"
He's also not surprised so many great Italian racers come from this part of the peninsula:
Rossi will have to keep an eye on the guys below him in the standings, however. Jorge Lorenzo won three straight races at Misano before Rossi halted his streak in 2014, and the 29-year-old, who isn't afraid to take risks exiting corners, is as desperate for points as he is.
Marc Marquez
Conventional wisdom says Misano is a track that shouldn't suit Marquez at all. The young superstar likes wide-open tracks where he has the space to go wide out of turns and doesn't have to worry about tight battles all that much.
As you can see in this video, he prefers to take a far wider approach to medium-speed corners compared to Rossi:
Misano is nothing like Silverstone or some of the other previous tracks, however. It's tight and technical, and tailor-made for riders who love nothing more than to battle for the inside line. It's difficult to take a commanding lead, as minor errors occur constantly.
It was one of the few races Marquez didn't win during his magical 2014 season, but he did take the top spot last year, displaying his fantastic ability to deal with harsh weather conditions. Per Accuweather, the riders won't have to worry about rain this time around.
The key for Marquez will be to race intelligently. He doesn't have to win Sunday's race―a top-five finish will be more than enough to preserve the lead, and by avoiding the risks associated with the tight battles at Misano, he can set himself up well for the coming races, which suit his riding style more.
As shared by MotoGP's official Twitter account, Marquez confirmed he's not aiming for a win:
Rossi will need a lot of skill and a bit of luck to get even close to Marquez in the overall standings, and the Spaniard's best bet is not to help the veteran out by crashing and risking injury.
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