Larry Lawrence | April 3, 2016
Photo courtesy MotoGP.com
It was a dramatic day of MotoGP racing at the Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo in Argentina. Marc Marquez took an important victory, his first since Australia last year, to take over the series lead. Meanwhile defending world champ and previous series leader Jorge Lorenzo crashed out of the race early. Yamaha teammate Valentino Rossi was a lucky second. He was running fourth on the final lap when the factory Ducatis of Andrea Iannone and Andrea Dovizioso collided and went down. Rossi was 7.679 seconds behind Marquez at the checkered flag. Dani Pedrosa was a distant third, over 28 seconds back from Marquez, but was happily accepted his fortune of having a podium finish handed to him.
For Marquez it marked his 25th MotoGP victory, tying him with Kevin Schwantz for ninth on the all-time MotoGP wins list. More importantly the victory gives Marquez an eight-point lead on Rossi heading into next week’s round three in Austin Texas.
Michelin and Race Direction were unsure about the safety of rear tires brought to the Gran Premio Motul de la República, and came to the decision to reduce the race from 25 laps to 20. As Warm Up had been held in wet conditions and the race started dry, riders were required to come in on their ninth, tenth or 11th lap of the race and change to their second bike. There were therefore no concerns about fuel or tire life, riders able to give it their all on both stints. The race was run on a mostly dry track after earlier rains left small damp patches, which ultimately caught out a few riders.
Lorenzo led the field into the first turn, but Dovizioso quickly put his factory Ducati into the lead. Lorenzo fell back on the first lap, while Rossi moved to second followed by Suzuki’s Maverick Vinales to third. Andrea Iannone clipped the back end of Marquez and Iannone ran wide, taking Dani Pedrosa with him. The impact knocked the rear onboard camera loose on Marquez’ machine and it dangled from wires.
On lap three it was Marquez on the move up to second. And then a few turns later he zipped by Dovizioso to take over the lead. A lap after that Rossi got by Dovi to take over second.
Cal Crutchlow and Aleix Espargaro crashed almost simultaneously a few laps in, both rejoined. A lap or so later Yonny Hernandez crashed out and then Jack Miller, who had been battling for sixth.
Five laps in Lorenzo crashed out, low siding in turn one, his bike was too damaged to continue.
Around halfway Rossi briefly took the lead, but ran wide in five giving back the lead to Marquez.
Vinales and Iannone were the first of the top runners to pit for their second bike.
When the leaders pitted for bike swaps Marquez emerged in front of Rossi. Unfortunately for Rossi he got stuck behind Tito Rabat. It created a 3.2-second gap between the two top runners. Vinales slotted into third after the pit stops. The Ducatis of Dovizioso and Iannone rounded out the top five. In the following laps Marquez continued to stretch out his gap up front.
With five laps to go a brilliant race for Scott Redding in sixth, came to an end with some sort of issue with his machine, as he coasted to a stop.
Vinales was on track for a podium, but under pressure from Iannone, when the Suzuki rider ran a little wide into a damp piece of pavement and pitched away his bike in turn one with three laps to go.
At turn five with two laps to go Dovizioso made a beautiful double pass on his Ducati teammate Iannone and Rossi to take over second.
In a dramatic final lap, Iannone lost the front end trying to go under Dovi. Iannone crashed into Dovi taking both Ducatis out and handing Rossi and Pedrosa podium finishes. It was clearly an over-ambitious move for on the part of Iannone. Rossi shook his head in disbelief at the good turn of fortune for him.
On the podium Marquez beamed at his command performance.
“On the first race it was difficult,” Marquez said. “Because the track still was wet and especially with the first bike I didn’t feel good, already in the practice. But with the second one I knew that was the key. The first five laps with the new tires I pushed 100 percent and yeah, I opened the gap and then I just went the distance.”
Rossi too was delighted with his fortune to finish runner up.
“At the beginning I struggled a bit,” Rossi admitted. “After I got my rhythm with the first bike I was fast and I can fight with Marquez I think. So we start fight and start to have fun, but after the stop-restart with the second bike I never feel the same. I started bad and after continued to go slow. I wasn’t able to ride like the first. At the end the two Ducatis arrived and I think without the touch I cannot arrive on the podium. So it is a great result, 20 very important points and I am so happy because it is the first podium of the season.”
The series now moves directly to Austin and the Circuit of the Americas for round three next weekend.
MotoGP results from the Argentine Grand Prix, April 3, 2016
Standings
1 Marc MARQUEZ Honda SPA 41
2 Valentino ROSSI Yamaha ITA 33
3 Dani PEDROSA Honda SPA 27
4 Jorge LORENZO Yamaha SPA 25
5 Andrea DOVIZIOSO Ducati ITA 23