Marco Bezzecchi was dominant in career first MotoGP win in Argentina GP as Johann Zarco was second from Alex Marquez.
It was a wet weather situation for the MotoGP race in Argentina GP as pole-sitter Alex Marquez on the Gresini Ducati lost the lead to Marco Bezzecchi on his VR46 Ducati as they tip-toed in wet conditions. Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia was third in the order.
Yamaha’s Franco Morbidelli was fourth from Pramac Ducati’s Johann Zarco with Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro in sixth, LCR Honda’s Alex Rins, VR46’s Luca Marini, LCR’s Takaaki Nakagami and Pramac’s Jorge Martin in the Top 10.
There was a fall for KTM’s Brad Binder when he was tapped by Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales as RNF Aprilia’s Raul Fernandez was involved in it too. The South African managed to continue on but the incident was put under investigation by the stewards which they cleared it.
Another incident where Nakagami tapped Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo was put under investigation which cost the Frenchman as he dropped to last after going wide. At the front, Bezzecchi led comfortably from Marquez, Bagnaia and Morbidelli.
Zarco was fifth from Gresini’s Fabio di Giannantonio who moved from 14th to sixth as he led Rins, Espargaro, KTM’s Jack Miller and Nakagami. The Japanese rider was relieved after he was cleared of any penalty for tapping Quartararo by the stewards.
As the four riders ahead settled down, Giannantonio moved up to fifth from Rins and Miller, who both gained over Zarco who ran eighth ahead of Martin and Marini in the Top 10. Espargaro was the one to lose out in the pack to drop out of the Top 10.
Having been at fifth for long, Giannantonio started to lose out as the race progressed. The Italian dropped to ninth with Rins getting to fifth from Zarco, Martin and Miller. Marini rounded out the Top 10 from Quartararo who climbed up after falling back.
After a settled run, there was movement in the Top 4 where Baganaia made a move on Marquez despite some resistance for second. Morbidelli got on the Spaniard’s tail soon, with Zarco and Martin clearing Rins for fifth and sixth.
Miller was eighth from Marini as Quartararo got through Giannantonio to be 10th. There was late drama at the front when Bagnaia fell from second. He managed to continue on but dropped down to 16th and out of the points.
It was Bezzecchi in the lead from Marquez who was back in second as Morbidelli moved up the podium position. Zarco was fourth from Martins, with Miller in sixth from Rins and Quartararo who cleared Marini, while Giannantonio was back in 10th.
The fight for second started to close in with Marquez being chased by Morbidelli and Zarco. A wide moment from the Italian allowed an easy pass for the Frenchman to take the podium spot. He pressed the Spaniard long for second.
He got it eventually on the final lap as Bezzecchi was dominant in MotoGP win in Argentina GP to also become the new points leader after a point-less race for Bagnaia. Marquez settled for third from Morbidelli in a fine show, with Martin in fifth.
Miller held on to sixth despite the push from Quartararo as Marini passed Rins for eighth, with Giannantonio doing well in 10th. Tech3 GASGAS’ Augusto Fernandez was 11th from Vinales, Nakagami, Fernandez and Espargaro in the Top 15 points places.
The Spaniard seemingly had vision issues as he looked on. Bagnaia, meanwhile, was 16th and out of points with Binder rounding the 17 runners after Honda’s Joan Mir pulled out due to injury after MotoGP Sprint crash.
A new contender is born! 👏#ArgentinaGP 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/g0rrq1mwkd
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) April 2, 2023