- Misano World Circuit
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Misano World Circuit 
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 12.683333°ECoordinates: 43°57′41″N 12°41′0″E / 43.96139°N 12.683333°E Major events San Marino motorcycle Grand Prix; Superbike World Championship; Formula Renault; FIA Sportscars Length 4.064 km (2.525 mi) Turns 11 Lap record 1:33.918 (Casey Stoner, Ducati, 2007) The Misano World Circuit and before 2006 called Circuito Internazionale Santamonica, is an Italian racetrack located next to the town of Misano Adriatico (Province of Rimini) in the frazione of Santamonica. 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's Coast Grand Prix as part of the MotoGP World Championship.
On 3 November 2011, the circuit owners announced that it will be named after Marco Simoncelli, the Italian motorcycle racer who died during the 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang.[1][2] Simoncelli was born in nearby Cattolica and lived since childhood in Coriano.[3][4][5]
History
Misano World Circuit was designed in 1969; it was built from 1970 and 1972, and inaugurated that year. Its initial length was 3,488 km and only had a small, open pit area. This version of the circuit hosted three editions of the San Marino motorcycle Gran Prix, from 1985 to 1987. In 1993 it was modified for the first time: the track length was increased to 4.060 kilometres (2.52 mi), 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 500cc 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 (Daijiro Kato street) in honor of the late Japanese rider, killed during the 2003 Japanese Grand Prix, who loved to live in the Portoverde frazione of Misano Adriatico.
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, track width has been widened to 14 meters, 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's 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.[6] Coincidentally this incident occurred 17 years to the day of Wayne Rainey's career ending incident also at Misano.
References
- ^ "Misano circuit to be renamed after Marco Simoncelli". BBC. Archived from the original on 6 November 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motogp/15584165.stm. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
- ^ "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. http://www.misanocircuit.com/index.php?page=news&cod=75. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
- ^ "Marco Simoncelli: Career Achievements". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 28 October 2011. http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2011/Career+Achievements+of+Marco+Simoncelli. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
- ^ "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. http://www.loccidentale.it/node/110799. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
- ^ "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. http://www.ilgiornale.it/interni/quel_clone_valentino_faccia_cabaret_nascosta_cespuglio/24-10-2011/articolo-id=553262. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
- ^ "Tomizawa killed in Moto2 accident". autosport.com. 2010-09-05. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/86410. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
External links
Categories:- World Superbike racing circuits
- Grand Prix motorcycle racing circuits
- Motorsport venues in Italy
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