MotoGP: Argentine Grand Prix – Who Was Where

The MotoGP circus returned to South America for the first time in three years after the Covid-19 pandemic. The return to the Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo was an eventful one from the start of the weekend.

The Argentine Grand Prix had no track action on the Friday due to a logistical issue. The MotoGP freight did not arrive in Argentina in time for the practice sessions. The equipment eventually arrived to the circuit in the early hours of the Saturday morning. The teams worked overtime to get the bikes ready for an action packed Saturday. The racing in Argentina was still as good as previous races despite the less practice time.

Aleix Espargaro took Aprilia’s first ever MotoGP pole position after beating Jorge Martin to pole.

Race Results:

Aprilia Racing Team:

It was a monumental weekend for Aprilia in the MotoGP championship as they took their first ever pole position. Which was then followed up by their first ever MotoGP race win in a titanic battle.

Aleix Espargaro:

The Spanish rider who had never won a Grand Prix throughout his 18 year career is now a race winner. Espargaro lost the lead from pole at the start of the race. However, he kept his cool and regained the lead on lap 21. Espargaro has added his name to the history books as a MotoGP race winner. The 32-year-old is also now leading the world championship after three rounds.

Maverick Vinales:

Vinales has had his first good race with Aprilia in 2022. The Spaniard started the race in fifth place and was battling for fifth all race long. However, he could only manage to finish seventh place. But it was a good weekend for Aprilia and their two riders.

Pramac Racing:

Pramac Ducati have another podium place in the 2022 season and have had another rider crash out. This race the roles reversed for the riders after the Indonesian Grand Prix.

Jorge Martin:

The ‘Martinator’ started the race from second place but took the lead into turn one. However, the Spaniard could not break Espargaro and lost the lead on lap 21. Martin could not get back passed Espargaro and settled for second place. This is the first time Martin has scored points this season.

Johann Zarco:

What should have been a good weekend for Zarco in Argentina turned into a nightmare. The French rider started the race down in ninth place and dropped back from the start. While battling for twelfth place Zarco hit the deck at turn two and did not rejoin.

Team Suzuki Ecstar:

Once again an amazing weekend for Suzuki as their riders finished back to back once again for the third Grand Prix in a row. The two Spaniards had a great weekend and one found the podium.

Alex Rins:

Rins claimed his first podium of the 2022 season at the same track where he claimed his first ever podium. The 26-year-old started in seventh place and made his way through the pack until he found third place. Rins could not catch the leaders but his year has got off to a good start.

Joan Mir:

Mir finished fourth place in the third Grand Prix of the year. After starting eighth place Mir followed his teammate through the pack and stuck with him all race. Mir did not get the chance to battle for the podium but the Suzuki’s look strong.

Ducati Lenovo Team:

The weekend looked like it would be bleak for factory Ducati once again. However, one rider had a decent result which can hopefully turn their season around.

Francesco Bagnaia:

Bagnaia qualified down in 14th place but got moved up to 13th for the start of the race. The Italian rider rode his best race of the 2022 season as he made his way up to fifth place. Hopefully Bagnaia has found something to allow himself to get back into the championship fight.

Jack Miller:

After qualifying 11th but getting moved to 14th due to a penalty Miller’s weekend was already off to a bad start. The Australian rider was expected to do well in Argentina as he has gone well around the circuit before. However, Miller finished 14th in the exact same position he started in.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing:

The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team are not on the podium for the first time in the 2022 season. It was an up and down weekend for the Austrian team in Argentina.

Brad Binder:

The South African rider finished the race in sixth place after making his way up from 11th on the grid. Binder has never been to Argentina on a MotoGP bike so his result in perspective was a very good effort.

Miguel Oliveira:

The Indonesian Grand Prix race winner started the Argentine Grand Prix in 16th place. But he did manage to get a couple points as he made his way into 13th place. Not a great weekend for the Portuguese rider though.

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP:

The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team have had another average weekend where their champion struggled. At a track where Yamaha have had success more was expected from the manufacturer.

Fabio Quartararo:

The reigning champion started the Grand Prix from sixth place and it only went backwards from there. The French rider finished the race down in eighth place after he struggled for the whole race.

Franco Morbidelli:

The Italian rider had a poor qualifying as he started in 15th place. However, his race got even worse. Morbidelli did not finish the Grand Prix due to what we thought to be a technical problem, but it was actually a puncture.

Mooney VR46 Racing Team:

The Mooney VR46 Racing Team had an incredible weekend as both of their riders claimed points.

Marco Bezzecchi:

Bezzecchi had an amazing weekend in Argentina as he finished ninth place. After starting 17th place and making his way through the pack Bezzecchi is proving how incredible he is.

Luca Marini:

After starting on the front row more was expected of Marini. However, his race did not go very well as he could only managed to finish in 11th place.

Gresini Racing MotoGP:

The Gresini team had their worst weekend in MotoGP of the season, but one rider still managed to score points.

Enea Bastianini:

The ex-championship leader Bastianini started from 12th place and could only manage to get into 10th place. The Italian rider usually makes his way through the pack at the middle stage of the race. However, he did not manage to in this Grand Prix.

Fabio Di Giannantonio:

Di Giannantonio had a poor weekend as he qualified in 20th place. However, he did not finish the race as he crashed out of the race after struggling near the back of the grid.

LCR Honda:

The LCR Honda team had both riders score points at the Argentine Grand Prix after one rider turned up last minute on Saturday.

Takaaki Nakagami:

The Japanese rider was first thought not be riding at the Argentine Grand Prix due to Covid-19. However, Nakagami showed up on Saturday morning after returning two negative Covid tests. Nakagami finished the race in twelfth so he scored some decent points.

Alex Marquez:

Once again Marquez has had an awful weekend. Marquez finished fifteenth place in the race and does not look to be getting any better in 2022.

Tech3 KTM Factory Racing:

The Tech3 KTM team had both riders outside of the points in Argentina, but both of their riders did finish the race.

Raul Fernandez:

The runner up from the 2021 Moto2 season finished 16th place in Argentina one place outside of the points. Fernandez did well as he went up from 21st on the grid to 16th overall.

Remy Gardner:

The Moto2 champion of the 2021 season finished seventeenth place at Argentina, which was not a bad race. The Australian made his way up from 22nd on the grid to 17th which was similar to his teammate.

WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team:

It was a poor weekend for the satellite Yamaha team on their return to South America.

Darryn Binder:

After scoring points in Indonesia Binder could only manage to finish 18th place in Argentina. The South African started 23rd and made his way up to 18th which was a good result for the rookie.

Andrea Dovizioso:

Dovizioso struggled in Argentina, a track where he should have gone well. The Italian rider started in 18th place and then struggled after his front ride height device did not disengage. Which Dovizioso claims was his fault entirely.

Repsol Honda:

It was an awful weekend for the Repsol Honda Team without Marc Marquez with the team once again.

Stefan Bradl:

The German rider stood in for Marquez as he has been ruled out with diplopia once again. The now commentator for German TV rode again for Repsol Honda and finished 19th place. After starting 24th place Bradl had a rather dull race.

Pol Espargaro:

Espargaro had an awful weekend after qualifying fourth on the grid and running in podium positions. The Spanish rider lost the front into turn two and crashed out of the podium places.