San Marino MotoGP, Misano
Date: 4-5 September
Saturday 4 September Qualifying: 1150-1500, BBC Red Button and Online
Sunday 5 September: Race live: 1230-1400, BBC Two, 125cc & Moto2: 0950-1205, Red Button MotoGP Extra: 1400-1430, Red Button

By Steve Parrish BBC MotoGP commentator

Spies had his best weekend of his debut season last time out

When it was announced that Ben Spies was joining Jorge Lorenzo at Fiat Yamaha next year, the Spaniard said it would be good to have him on board. He might not be so sure about that now!

Last time out at Indianapolis, the American managed his first pole position and his second podium finish.

He really is the man of the moment, and he's building well on the foundations he's put down earlier in his debut season. All he needs now is to go one further and win a race.

Sunday's race was a bit of a crash-fest. We saw Valentino Rossi go down three times, which is surely a record.

The changes of surface and temperature made it a bit of a lottery, so Lorenzo had to make do with his worst finish of the season - in third place! - rather than risk it and squander the world championship lead he's built up.

Although it's a very prestigious venue, Indy is always a bit of an oddity and leaves a bit to be desired as a circuit.

I notice they've only got a one-year contract, so this weekend will feel a bit more like getting back to where we should be.

We have a bit of normality returning when we got to Misano for the San Marino Grand Prix.

Rossi lives nearby, as do a couple of other riders, so there'll be a lot expected of him as it's his home race, but I think he's still concerned about his fitness level after the crash where he broke his leg.

Pedrosa 'destroyed' after Indy MotoGP win

His strength and fitness seem to be below par, so when things go wrong, he's not as able to gather things up as he has been in the past, which means he has a bigger change of injuring himself again.

Once again, I think Lorenzo will be slightly reserved. He'll go as fast as he feels comfortable, and no more - there's no point pushing too much or gambling.

Nicky Hayden has been confirmed as Rossi's team-mate for next season, and I think he should be quite buoyed by the news that Ducati have pulled out of World Superbikes and are clearly making MotoGP their big spearhead.

He's got a two-year contract so all he's got to do is be as close to Rossi as possible. He has a big task ahead of him, but Ducati have shown a lot of faith in him as he's been there a long time despite not getting the results he'd have hoped.

With Rossi there, the bike will be developed at such a high level, Ducati could be the place to be.

It's not confirmed yet but it looks like Rossi's mechanic Jerry Burgess could be going to Ducati with him, so they've got the ingredients to make their bike the best on the grid.

My Misano race prediction:

1) Dani Pedrosa 2) Valentino Rossi 3) Jorge Lorenzo

Steve Parrish was talking to BBC Sport's Julian Shea.

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