Misano World Circuit
The Misano World Circuit is a race track located next to the town of Misano Adriatico in the frazione of Santa Monica-Cella. Originally designed in 1969 as a length of, it hosted its first event in 1972. In 1993, the track length was increased to.
As of 2007 [Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|2007], it began hosting the San Marino and Rimini Riviera motorcycle 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 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, 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.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, track width has been widened to, 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 Riviera motorcycle 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. 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 would be named after Marco Simoncelli, an Italian motorcyclist who died during the 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang a week prior. Simoncelli was born in nearby Cattolica and had lived from childhood in Coriano. On 8 June 2012 the track's new name was confirmed at the San Marino round of the Superbike World Championship.
Events
; Current- April:
- May: European Truck Racing Championship Misano Grand Prix Truck, Italian GT Championship ACI Racing Weekend Misano, Italian F4 Championship,
- June: Superbike World Championship, International GT Open, Supersport World Championship, Sportbike World Championship, Euroformula Open Championship, FIM Women's Motorcycling World Championship, GT Cup Open Europe
- July: GT World Challenge Europe, GT2 European Series, GT4 European Series, McLaren Trophy Europe, Racing Night
- September: Grand Prix motorcycle racing San Marino and Rimini Riviera motorcycle Grand Prix, Grand Prix motorcycle racing, Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, TCR Italian Series ACI Racing Weekend Misano, Italian F4 Championship,
- October: FIM MotoJunior World Championship, FIM Moto2 European Championship, Porsche Sprint Challenge Suisse, Moto4 European Cup
- November: TCR European Endurance Touring Car Series FX Racing Weekend Misano
- 24H Series
- * Michelin 12H Misano
- 3000 Pro Series
- BOSS GP
- Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
- Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0
- Eurocup Mégane Trophy
- Euroseries 3000
- European Formula Two Championship
- European Touring Car Championship
- Ferrari Challenge Europe
- Ferrari Challenge Finali Mondiali
- FIA European Formula 3 Championship
- FIA Formula 3 European Championship
- FIA Formula E World Championship
- * Misano ePrix
- FIA Sportscar Championship
- FIM Endurance World Championship
- Formula ACI/CSAI Abarth Italian Championship
- Formula Regional European Championship
- Formula Renault 2.0 Alps
- Formula Renault 3.5 Series
- French F4 Championship
- Grand Prix motorcycle racing
- * Emilia Romagna motorcycle Grand Prix
- * Italian motorcycle Grand Prix
- GTR Euroseries
- International GTSprint Series
- Italian Formula Renault Championship
- Italian Formula Three Championship
- Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Finals
- MotoE World Championship
- * San Marino and Rimini Riviera eRace
- Porsche Carrera Cup France
- Porsche Carrera Cup Germany
- Sidecar World Championship
- Super Tourenwagen Cup
- Supersport 300 World Championship
- Superstars Series
- TCR Europe Touring Car Series
- Ultimate Cup Series
- W Series
- World Sportscar Championship