MotoGP: Argentina Review – Magnificent Marquez Crushes The Field

The second round of the 2019 MotoGP World Championship was held this weekend at the spectacular Termas de Rio Hondo circuit in Argentina. After the thrills in Qatar three weeks ago, nobody was prepared for one rider masterclass.

Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) produced a simply incredible performance, crushing the entire field as he notched up his first win of the 2019 season. The defending champion was in a class all of his own this weekend. Fastest man throughout practice. Pole position secured with ease in the closing moments of qualifying on Saturday. Untouchable during the race on Sunday.

From lights to flag, Marquez was in a class of his own. A perfect launch off the line was followed by a series of blistering lap times in the early stages of the race. Even when he had settled into a more conservative rhythm by the halfway mark, Marquez was still pulling clear. A truly devastating performance which has firmly stamped his authority on the 2019 championship.

The major concern for his rivals is that Marquez did not crash once throughout the weekend. Aside from one very strange incident on Saturday when his chain broke off, he was in perfect sync with the bike and the circuit. In short, he knew where the limit was, and never strayed over it.

An ominous sign indeed for the rest of the field seeing Marquez already at one with his machine so early in the season.

Behind the runaway winner, Valentino Rossi (Monster Yamaha) and Andrea Dovizioso (Mission Winnow Ducati) engaged in a thrilling battle for the remaining podium places. The two Italian veterans darted and diced with each other all race long. They pushed each other to the very edge of both their abilities and the capabilities of their machines. It contest was fierce, and the passing was as close as it can get without colliding. A true gladiatorial contest.

Rossi was overjoyed with finishing in P2, his first podium finish since the German grand prix in 2018, and did not hold back in celebrating. Dovizioso was muted in comparison – not surprising considering the result means he drops down to second place in the championship behind Marquez.  

It wouldn’t be an Argentinean grand prix without some controversy and Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) was the victim of a very dubious drive-through penalty. Replays from the TV cameras were inconclusive, with neither concrete proof of a jumpstart or any discernible advantage gained.

It later transpired from the cameras race direction have specially positioned in line with each grid row, that a rocking motion from the British rider moving his front wheel forwards and backwards in his grid box was visible. It is worth pointing out that at the time the lights went out, Crutchlow’s front wheel had rocked back short of the sensor line.

However, in the black-and-white lettering of the rule book any movement can be considered a ‘jump start’, and the stewards deemed this incident to be just that. Even though that is the case, no advantage had been gained and Crutchlow was understandably fuming at the decision post-race.

It was a cruel blow for the 3x grand prix winner, who proved to be the only rider able to run consistently to the same pace as Marquez. Crutchlow battled through the field and did at least secure 3 championship points with P13.

Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) produced a brilliant recovery ride to finish 5th, including a brilliant duel in the closing stages with Pramac Ducati rider Jack Miller. Rins had given himself an unenviable task, after a wrong set up decision had left the Spaniard languishing on the sixth row of the grid after qualifying.

Miller showed his class with an inspired ride to finish P4. The Australian had Jokingly said during the build up to the race that his real bike was being ridden by Danilo Petrucci. His performance this weekend, which saw him a constant presence in the top 5 places, will certainly have not gone unnoticed by the factory team.

All six manufacturers were represented in the top 10 for the first time, with Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia) and his brother Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM) dragging their troublesome machines to P9 and P10 respectively. Both riders will be leaving Argentina very happy with their work.

After the torrid time both teams experienced out in Qatar, the respectable points haul gleaned from this weekend will send a wave of confidence through the camps as they head to Texas, for round three, in a fortnight.