Misano Adriatico (Italy) (AFP)

With each victory worth 25 points, to take the crown in Italy, the Yamaha rider must stay at least 50 lengths ahead of his last rival, Francesco "Pecco" Bagnaia (Ducati).

Knowing that he has a mattress of 52 units, Quartararo must not lose more than two points on the Italian (or that the latter does not score more than two, whatever the result of the French).

That is to say a multitude of possible scenarios ...

This weekend, the battle promises to be close: Bagnaia won in front of El Diablo on the same circuit in September, during the GP of San Marino.

But the figures plead in favor of the leader of the championship since the 5th round, in France, in May.

"If we get there at Misano, it will be fantastic, but Pecco is very strong there," Quartararo recalled after the previous round.

"Otherwise we'll have another chance. We just have to stay calm."

Rossi's last "at home"

"To be honest, my head is not too much in the championship," he assured Thursday at a press conference.

"I try to take it as a normal race, in any case Friday and Saturday, which must be approached as at the beginning of the season. And we will see Sunday what we can take as risks."

The Italian legend Valentino Rossi, September 17, 2021 in San Marino on the Marco-Simoncelli circuit ANDREAS SOLARO AFP / Archives

In other words, to seek "the best possible result" while remaining "intelligent".

"The objective will be to fight for victory in order to keep the championship open until the end", repeats for his part Bagnaia.

He retains a coronation hope but must count on at least two blank scores from the 22-year-old Frenchman in the last three races.

But Fabio has never given up this season.

Better, he is the only one to have "scored" during each of the 15 GP contested.

If the title was not up for grabs, the weekend would be no less exceptional: it is the last home appearance of icon Valentino Rossi (Yamaha-SRT), who will retire at the end of the season.

"The previous race in Misano was already a very emotional moment," said the 42-year-old Italian.

"This one will, of course, be a special race at home, and I hope the Italian fans will enjoy it."

Zarco for the title of best independent driver

Among the other titles to be won, the honorary one of best independent driver (current for a private team) can also go to Johann Zarco (Ducati-Pramac) on Sunday.

Fifth in the championship with 141 points, the Frenchman will have to leave Misano with 51 steps ahead of his closest pursuer.

He has, for the moment, 37 on the Spaniard Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia), 59 on his Spanish teammate Jorge Martin, 70 on the Italian Enea Bastianini (Ducati-Avintia) and 71 on the Japanese Takaaki Nakagami (Honda- LCR).

"It was not something I was + focused on at the start of the season", acknowledges Zarco.

He was at the forefront of the championship at the start of the season, then he struggled after the summer break.

The French rider of the Ducati-Pramac team Johann Zarco during the tests of the motorcycle GP of San Marino, September 18, 2021 in Misano Adriatico ANDREAS SOLARO AFP / Archives

"But when you do the math and try to get back to the positive, it's an interesting goal, a proof of ability."

Like trying to climb back up a little in the drivers' standings.

The titles of the constructors (which Ducati and Yamaha are fighting over), of the teams (for which the official Ducati and Yamaha teams are favorites, but to which Suzuki, Ducati-Pramac and KTM can still claim) and the "rookie" of the year ( among beginners Martin, Bastianini and Luca Marini) cannot, however, be awarded in Emilia-Romagna.

In Moto2, the fight between two teammates, the Australian Remy Gardner and the Spaniard Raul Fernandez, separated by only nine points, is not about to end either.

In Moto3, the Spanish rookie Pedro Acosta (KTM) also has a match point ... at 17!

But his chances are slim: to be crowned, he must score 21 points more than the Italian Dennis Foggia (Honda).

© 2021 AFP