MotoGP Argentina, Termas – Race Results

* Rookie.

Marco Bezzecchi has taken a brilliant first MotoGP win – and the 2023 title lead – with a peerless ride in Sunday’s wet Argentine Grand Prix at Termas de Rio Hondo.

Runner-up in the Saturday Sprint, Bezzecchi took the lead on the opening lap and remained in a class of his own, also handing Valentino Rossi’s VR46 Ducati team its first premier-class victory.

But while one Italian was walking on water, Bezzecchi pulling over 7 seconds clear of the field at one stage, another ed out of the world championship lead: Reigning title holder Francesco Bagnaia sliding off his factory Ducati soon after taking second from Alex Marquez. Bagnaia slapped his helmet with frustration on the slowdown lap.

That mistake looked to give the remaining podium places to Gresini Ducati’s Marquez and Yamaha’s Franco Morbidelli, but Pramac’s Johann Zarco mounted a late charge to rip third from Morbidelli’s grasp with 3 laps to go, then second from Marquez on the final lap.

Nonetheless, Marquez celebrated his first podium since his rookie 2020 season at Repsol Honda, in only his second race weekend on a Ducati.

• New 2023 MotoGP World Championship standings

Zarco’s team-mate Jorge Martin and Jack Miller completed the top six.

Miller’s KTM team-mate Brad Binder, winner of the Sprint from 15th on the grid, couldn’t repeat yesterday’s stunning first lap, then hit the deck after contact from Maverick Vinales at Turn 5.

Another opening lap clash saw Takaaki Nakagami force Fabio Quartararo wide at Turn 7. The Frenchman, who has struggled all weekend, joined Binder at the back of the field.

Both incidents were investigated by the FIM Stewards, with no action taken.

Quartararo mounted an impressive recovery to seventh, on Miller’s rear wheel, while Binder remained at the back of the field, possibly with bike damage.

Last year’s dry Aprilia winner Aleix Espargaro was never a contender in the wet and may have suffered a vision issue with his helmet as he dropped back to 14th, two places behind team-mate Vinales. The pair had been first and second in the dry Friday practice sessions.

All riders picked the medium compound wet tyres, front and rear, for the race.

Joan Mir, who underwent hospital checks after an opening lap accident in the Sprint, was declared unfit on Sunday morning due to ‘cranial and cervical trauma’ that caused ongoing ‘nausea and dizziness’.

The Repsol Honda rider’s exit meant today’s MotoGP field was reduced to just 17 riders with the former world champion joining team-mate Marc Marquez plus Miguel Oliveira, Pol Espargaro and Enea Bastianini on the sidelines.

• MotoGP Argentina – Sprint Race Results
• Argentina Moto2: Latest Results
• Argentina Moto3: Latest Results

Mir, Bastianini, Oliveira and Marquez hope to return for round three in COTA, but Espargaro’s injuries are set to see him sidelined for at least several more events. There were no stand-in riders this weekend but Espargaro will be replaced by KTM test rider Jonas Folger next time out.

With Marquez missing, Alex Rins was given one of the newer Honda chassis as used by the #93 for this weekend – but also hopes to try one of the other versions used by Mir.