The San Marino branding arose from a practical need to differentiate the event from Italy's existing Grand Prix, which occupies a separate slot on the calendar. The Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli is located near Misano Adriatico in the Emilia-Romagna region, not far from the border of San Marino, and the inclusion of the Rimini Riviera in the event's full title reflects the broader coastal area the race serves. The circuit was renamed in honour of Marco Simoncelli, the Italian MotoGP rider who died following a race incident at the 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix.
The San Marino Grand Prix first appeared on the world championship calendar in 1981 at the Autodromo Dino Ferrari in Imola. The race moved to the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello in 1982, returned to Imola in 1983, and went back to Mugello in 1984. From 1985 the event settled at the Circuito Internazionale Santa Monica, which would later be developed into the modern Misano World Circuit.
The race was removed from the calendar in 1988. It returned in 1991 at the Mugello circuit before disappearing again after 1993. It was absent for thirteen years, making its long-awaited comeback in 2007 at Misano, where it has remained a permanent fixture ever since.
Since 2007 the San Marino and Rimini Riviera Grand Prix has established itself as one of the most popular rounds of the MotoGP season. Misano's mix of medium-speed corners and flowing sections suits a variety of riding styles, and the circuit's location in the Italian motorcycle heartland draws massive crowds of passionate tifosi. The event regularly sells out, creating a cauldron atmosphere that places particular pressure on Italian riders competing on home soil.
The event has operated under a series of official sponsor names since its 2007 return. Early editions were titled Gran Premio Cinzano di San Marino e Della Riviera di Rimini (2007–2009), followed by Aperol (2010–2013) and TIM (2014–2016). Sponsorship then passed through Tribul Mastercard (2017), Octo (2018–2019, 2021), Lenovo (2020), Gryfyn (2022), and Red Bull (2023–2024). From 2025 the event carries the title Red Bull Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera.
The San Marino motorcycle Grand Prix, despite its intermittent history across multiple circuits, has found a stable and celebrated home at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. The circuit's Italian identity, combined with the passionate local fanbase and the emotional weight of the Simoncelli dedication, gives the event a depth of meaning that extends beyond its racing results alone. It stands as one of the most atmospheric rounds of the contemporary MotoGP calendar.