After seven different winners in the previous seven MotoGP races, it seems we will finally have a repeat victor here at Misano. While those who have joined the club recently are riding with new found confidence, and perhaps some weight lifted off their respective shoulders, after today’s qualifying session it looks like the race will be between Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi. Above, Rossi waves to fans, of whom there are many here at his home race.

Andrea Iannone excused himself from the weekend’s proceedings early on Friday, crashing and tumbling while approaching Turn 13.

With a cracked T3 vertebra, Iannone did not ride after FP1 and was later declared unfit to race. As some have discussed in the media center, this circuit, which is named for a rider who died on track (Marco Simoncelli at Sepang, 2011) is also the site of Wayne Rainey’s 1993 crash (which left Rainey a paraplegic) and Shoya Tomizawa’s fatal on track accident in 2010. Misano definitely does not need to take any chances with unfit riders being allowed to race. Iannone will be re-assesed before Aragon.

Pol Espargaro looked keen to keep the streak of seven different winners alive by being fastest man in FP2.

With Iannone out of action this weekend, Andrea Dovizioso has a good opportunity to overtake his teammate in the Championship. Dovi is 7 points behind Iannone coming into this weekend.

Marc Marquez is looking to spoil Yamaha’s plans for a win.

More scenes from Misano’s MotoGP di San Marino on the next page: