MotoGP family head to Marco Simoncelli circuit in San Marino This week the Repsol Honda Team heads to Misano for the thirteenth round of the 2013 World Championship and the second visit of the season to Italy. Close to the city of Rimini, the Misano Adriático circuit was constructed in 1972 and has since undergone an array of modifications. A regular scene for Italian Grands Prix throughout the 80s and early 90s, Misano returned to the MotoGP calendar in 2007. It was renamed in 2012 as the ‘Marco Simoncelli Circuit’ in honour of the much loved Italian rider who passed away in the Malaysian GP in 2011. Repsol Honda riders Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa are currently leading the Championship and will arrive in Misano full of confidence. Marc has won here the past three years (2010 125cc, 2011 and 2012 in Moto2), and Dani who was unfortunately taken out on the first lap last year (to no fault of anyone, just a racing incident) has enjoyed good results here with one victory (2010) a 2nd place (2011) and a 3rd place (2009). Marc Marquez Championship Standing: 1st – 233 points “I’m already feeling much better since my accident in Silverstone, so hopefully I’ll be almost 100% by this weekend! I will arrive in Italy for the race weekend a little later than usual as I will use the time to have more physiotherapy on my shoulder. Misano has a lot of braking and is a smaller and slower track compared to others on the calendar, so it will be interesting to ride the MotoGP bike there. Once again, the aim is to start to work like always, focused on Sunday and prepare ourselves in the best way” Dani Pedrosa Championship Standing: 2nd – 203 points “I was slightly disappointed after Silverstone as we knew we had the speed and race pace to challenge for victory, anyway we must learn from the mistakes and move on. Misano is quite a tricky track and the grip level is always a challenge, but I enjoy riding there. I’ve had good results in the past even if last year we experienced a nightmare on race day! This year we arrive confident and looking to reduce the points to Marc in the Championship”