Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli

Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli
Location Misano Adriatico, Province of Rimini, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Time zone CET, UTC+1
Coordinates 43°57′41″N 12°41′0″E / 43.96139°N 12.68333°E / 43.96139; 12.68333Coordinates: 43°57′41″N 12°41′0″E / 43.96139°N 12.68333°E / 43.96139; 12.68333
Capacity 60,000 (MotoGP 2016 Official Race Day Attendance 100,496)
Broke ground 1970
Opened 4 August 1972
Former names Circuito Internazionale Santa Monica (1972–2006)
Misano World Circuit (2006–2012)
Major events San Marino motorcycle Grand Prix; Superbike World Championship; Formula Renault; Blancpain Sprint
Length 4.2 km (2.63 mi)
Turns 16
Lap record 1:31.868 (Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha YZR-M1, 2016)
Website www.misanocircuit.com

The Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli (previously called Misano World Circuit, and before 2006 called Circuito Internazionale Santa Monica), also known as Marco Simoncelli Circuit is a race track located next to the town of Misano Adriatico (Province of Rimini) in the frazione of Santa Monica. Originally designed in 1969 as a length of 3.488 kilometres (2.17 mi), it hosted its first event in 1972. In 1993, the track length was increased to 4.064 kilometres (2.53 mi).

As of 2007, it began hosting the San Marino and Rimini Coast Grand Prix as part of the MotoGP World Championship.

In 2012, the track was renamed to commemorate Marco Simoncelli, a local motorcycle racer who died in 2011.

History

The circuit was designed in 1969; it was built from 1970 and 1972, and inaugurated that year. Its initial length was 3.488 km (2.167 miles) and only had a small, open pit area. This version of the circuit hosted three editions of the San Marino motorcycle Grand Prix, from the 1985 season to the 1987 season. In 1993 it was modified for the first time: the track length was increased to 4.060 km (2.523 miles), with the possibility to race both the long and the old short loop; moreover, new facilities and new pit garages were built. It was at Misano during the 1993 Italian Grand Prix that the defending 500 cc World 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 2005, a new access point to the circuit was built, Via Daijiro Kato, in honor of the late Japanese rider, killed during the 2003 Japanese Grand Prix, whose in-season race home was in the Portoverde frazione of Misano Adriatico.

The original circuit layout until 2006, known as "Circuito Internazionale Santamonica"

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 brought to 4.180 km (2.597 miles), track width has been widened to 14 m (46 ft), facilities were improved, and all security measures have been applied. The first MotoGP race held on the circuit after the modifications was the 2007 San Marino and Rimini Coast Grand Prix, which was won by "home" marque Ducati.

During the 2010 Moto2 event, Japanese rider Shoya Tomizawa was killed after losing control of his bike and being subsequently struck by both Scott Redding and Alex de Angelis.[1] Coincidentally this incident occurred 17 years to the day of Wayne Rainey's career ending incident also at Misano.

On 3 November 2011, the circuit owners announced that it will be named after Marco Simoncelli, the Italian motorcycle racer who died during the Shell Advance Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang a week prior.[2][3] Simoncelli was born in nearby Cattolica and lived since childhood in Coriano.[4][5][6] On 8 June 2012 the track's new name was confirmed at the San Marino round of the Superbike World Championship.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Tomizawa killed in Moto2 accident". autosport.com. 2010-09-05. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
  2. ↑ "Misano circuit to be renamed after Marco Simoncelli". BBC. Archived from the original on 6 November 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  3. ↑ "Subito al lavoro per legare il nome di Marco Simoncelli a Misano World Circuit" [Already working on tying the name of Marco Simoncelli to Misano World Circuit] (in Italian). Misano World Circuit. 3 November 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  4. ↑ "Marco Simoncelli: Career Achievements". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 28 October 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  5. ↑ "Accendere la moto e andare è stata la lezione di Marco Simoncelli" [Start up the bike and go was the lesson of Marco Simoncelli] (in Italian). L'Occidentale. 23 October 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  6. ↑ "Quel clone di Valentino con la faccia da cabaret nascosta in un cespuglio" [That clone of Valentino with the face of cabaret hidden in a bush] (in Italian). Il Giornale. 24 October 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  7. ↑ "Misano circuit is renamed after Marco Simoncelli". BBC. 11 June 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
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