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Misano MotoGP weekend set new record with 140 crashes

The 140 crashes that occurred across MotoGP's San Marino Grand Prix weekend at Misano are a new grand prix motorcycle racing 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 race was less attritional, even that finished with only 15 riders classified on the lead lap.

Only two grands prix this year have featured more crashes than race day at Misano - Le Mans (94) and Assen (91) - but both are both dwarfed by the 140 seen across the three days at the Italian venue.

The crash count of 140 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.

Zdroj: autosport.com