Misano World Circuit which will host the San Marino GP was built in 1972 and its initial length was 3,488 km and only had a small, open pit area. This circuit hosted three editions of the San Marino Grand Prix, from 1985 to 1987. In 1993 it was modified for the first time, the track length was increased to 4.060 kilometres, with the possibility to race both the long and the old short loop. Also, new facilities and new pit garages were built.

It was at Misano in 1993, that the defending World 500cc Grand Prix Motorcycle Champion Wayne Rainey’s career ended after he fell and suffered a broken spine. Between 1996 and 2001 all facilities were improved further, adding more pits and stands.

In order to host again the World motorcycle championship, the circuit was extensively modified in 2006. The circuit direction was changed to clockwise direction, the track length was increased to 4.180 km and track width was widened to 14 meters. The first MotoGP race held on the circuit after the modifications was the 2007 San Marino and Rimini’s Coast Grand Prix, which was won by “home” marque Ducati.

During the 2010 Moto2 event, Japanese rider Shoya Tomizawa was tragically killed after losing control of his bike and being subsequently struck by both Scott Redding and Alex de Angelis. Coincidentally this accident occurred exactly 17 years after Wayne Rainey’s career ending incident also at Misano.

The Misano circuit is well known by Francesco Mauriello who has raced several times here. Even Sturla Fagerhaug knows the circuit, although last year he did not race.