Analysis: Misano breaks MotoGP race weekend crash record

A sharp change in weather conditions between qualifying and race day contributed to the high number of falls, with more than half – 80 – recorded by the official timing system during Sunday's wet warm-up sessions (26) and races (54). 

More than half the participants crashed out from the Moto3 and Moto2 races, and while the premier-class riders proved more successful at staying on their bikes, even their race finished with only 15 riders classified on the lead lap.

Only two entire race weekends this year have seen more crashes than race day at Misano, Le Mans (94) and Assen (91), which are both dwarfed by the 140 seen across the three days at the Italian venue.

That surpasses the previous record, which belonged to the 2010 Estoril race, by 10.

Leading this year’s ‘crash standings’ are two riders at opposite ends of the grid, Marc Marquez and Sam Lowes.

Aprilia rider Lowes has crashed a full 23 times this year, while Honda's Marquez has fallen 20 times, surpassing his previous season record of 17 with five races still to run this year.

However, despite breaking his own record, only two of the joint-championship leader's 20 crashes this year have come during races, in Argentina and Le Mans.

Translation by Irene Aneas