MotoGP: Argentina preview

The dust (and dew, rain and hail) in Qatar has settled. Yamaha is on top, and Maverick Vinales has joined a small, elite club of racers who have won Grands Prix on two different machines. The race wasn't predictable, though, and the next challenge arrives this weekend, at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit in Argentina. 

Maverick arrives here with a DNF on the Suzuki last year. The M1 should carry him through to the chequered flag in good position. What he needs to do is finish ahead of Marquez, to put as much pressure on him as possible, to catch up later in the season. Speaking of which - Marquez got the better of Rossi last year, as did both Ducatis, before Iannone took both Dovizioso and himself out on the final lap. Scott Redding, whose motorcycle was the one on which the tyre delaminated, was on track for a sixth place finish, but crashed out of the race. Michelin is painfully aware of what happened last year, and the effect it had on the race. There will be no repeats of last year's delamination, of course, but the tyre choice should keep it interesting, as it did in the Qatari desert. 

This year, the usual suspects will run at the front, but we're eagerly waiting to see if Johann Zarco's pace in Qatar was a one-off or a sign of better things to come. Marquez has admitted that the RC213V isn't to his liking, but he still managed to eke out a fourth place finish. Another rider we're keeping eyes on is Aleix Espargaro, who took his Aprilia to a completely unexpected sixth place at the Losail circuit. The weather is predicted to be rainy and cloudy for the weekend, so the performance difference between the factory and satellite machinery will be reduced. A weekend of fun racing awaits. 

 The MotoGP race starts at 12:30am on Monday morning (or Sunday night, whichever way you look at it.)