In case you forgot, the second race of the 2016 MotoGP season runs this weekend in Argentina, with practice action kicking off today.
Going into the race, Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo sits atop the standings, with his win at Qatar giving him 25 points. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) is second with 20, Marc Marquez (Honda) is third with 16. Expect to see those standings shift a bit after this weekend, as Lorenzo hasn’t won at Argentina yet, and Marquez dominates there.
Valentino Rossi, who just missed the podium at Qatar by a whisker, is certainly going to want to get back in the top three, especially as this weekend marks the 20th anniversary of his world championship debut (aboard a 125 cc two-stroke at the Malaysian GP). Just as significantly, it’s also the track where last year’s clashes with Marquez started …
Dani Pedrosa, who finished fifth, is in even more of a tight spot. After injuries ruined his 2015 season, he needs to prove he has what Honda needs, or one of MotoGP’s other rising stars might replace him.
Another rider to watch — Maverick Vinales. Aboard the Suzuki factory machine, he landed a sixth-place finish at Qatar. Suzuki’s MotoGP program has progressed tremendously well since they launched their team last year. You can bet he’s looking for a top-five finish, or even better, a podium.
