MotoGP Argentina – Race Results

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Grandstand
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Just as with free practice and qualifying, the Gran Premio de la República Argentina did not disappoint, with nail-biting passes, a late surge by world championship points leader Valentino Rossi, and a crash that provided the shocking surprise ending.

Predictably, Marc Marquez took off from his pole position start to build an early 4 second lead.  A three-way battle for second place ensued, involving Suzuki star rider Aleix Espargaro, Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo, Cal Crutchlow on the LCR Honda and both factory Ducatis.  Lorenzo dropped off into sixth while Andrea Dovizioso, second in the championship, traded places with Espargaro until he was dropped by the group.

The real story of the race was the charge of Rossi, who after terrible qualifying results began carving his way through the field until he got into 2nd.  Using the long-lasting extra-hard compound rear tire, he began setting faster and faster lap times and whittling away at Marquez’ lead until, with less than 3 laps remaining, he managed to take the lead.

The magnificent racing performances of Crutchlow, Espargaro, and the Ducati riders will however be overshadowed by what happened next.  With a shredding rear tire, Marquez attempted to retake the lead from Rossi twice, succeeding once.  But on the second attempt he could not get past, and clipped the rear wheel of Rossi’s Yamaha, causing him to crash.  A valiant attempt to restart was short lived, and he was visibly furious with himself as he stalked back on foot, out of the race.

MotoGP™“I am really sorry for the crash” said Valentino Rossi in the post race interview.  Obviously very happy for the heroic victory, he went on to explain how his tire strategy had been the key to the late race charge.

Marc Marquez made a last minute decision to switch from the same long-wearing rear tire Rossi used, to a slightly softer one, gambling that he could build an unassailable early lead.

Rossi now leads the world championship with 66 points.  The next race is in two weeks in Spain.

Pos. Points Num. Rider Nation Team Bike Km/h Time/Gap
1 25 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 173.3 41’35.644
2 20 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Ducati Team Ducati 172.9 +5.685
3 16 35 Cal CRUTCHLOW GBR CWM LCR Honda Honda 172.7 +8.298
4 13 29 Andrea IANNONE ITA Ducati Team Ducati 172.7 +8.352
5 11 99 Jorge LORENZO SPA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 172.6 +10.192
6 10 38 Bradley SMITH GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 171.9 +19.876
7 9 41 Aleix ESPARGARO SPA Team SUZUKI ECSTAR Suzuki 171.6 +24.333
8 8 44 Pol ESPARGARO SPA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 171.4 +27.670
9 7 45 Scott REDDING GBR EG 0,0 Marc VDS Honda 170.9 +34.397
10 6 25 Maverick VIÑALES SPA Team SUZUKI ECSTAR Suzuki 170.9 +34.808
11 5 9 Danilo PETRUCCI ITA Pramac Racing Ducati 170.5 +40.206
12 4 43 Jack MILLER AUS CWM LCR Honda Honda 170.4 +42.654
13 3 8 Hector BARBERA SPA Avintia Racing Ducati 170.4 +42.729
14 2 76 Loris BAZ FRA Athinà Forward Racing Yamaha Forward 170.3 +42.853
15 1 6 Stefan BRADL GER Athinà Forward Racing Yamaha Forward 170.3 +43.037
16 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Aspar MotoGP Team Honda 170.3 +43.252

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4 COMMENTS

  2. Valentino Rossi should consider becoming a diplomat when he retires MotoGP competition. During his post-race interview he asked about Marquez’ condition and said he hoped he was okay. He could as easily said. “The bastard ran into me…he got what he deserved!”

  3. I watched this on a private (ahem) thieving
    yadda. It had a chat pane. When Marq humped
    Rossi’s rear tyre, a 57 y.o. German from Munich
    typed: “such an idiot!!!”

    No one else said anything. They just up-voted.

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