MotoGP is in Argentina, for round two, at Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo. The bikes are on their sighting lap. The MotoGP bikes, will race here, for the next three years. Everyone may have thought this year, would be the final race in Argentina. This place is a great event, in Termas, Argentina. MotoGP (under the old, classic 500cc World Championship rules), first ran in Argentina, back in 1982. This speedway is located about 500 miles northwest of Argentina's capital in Buenos Aires. Jorge Lorenzo dominated in Qatar last time out. But, he's never won a race here in Argentina.
There is caution with the tires and new tires must be put on the motorcycles between laps nine and eleven of this race. Safety is of paramount importance. We will get a dry race, but it will be flag-to-flag. The rear tire of the motorcycle will only be used for ten laps. Valentino Rossi is the defending champion of this race, starting from the middle of the front row. He was quick, in the wet. Michelin's Nicolas Goubert says that new designed tires, could not be used, for safety. The race distance, will also be shortened. There is a minimum tire pressure as well. It's set higher, to protect the tires and the riders.
20 laps scheduled. This has been declared, a dry race, and as mentioned above, for the tire switch, riders will swap their bikes, at the end of laps nine, ten, or eleven. Aleix Espargaro has qualified fourth, and is one of three riders with the medium front tire, and the only rider running the hard option rear tire. What's next, after the great race in Qatar a couple weeks ago? We'll see. Only three riders, are running the medium compound front Michelin. The two Suzuki's of Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales, along with Bradley Smith. Aleix Espargaro is also, the only rider in this field, to go with the hard compound rear tire.
Marc Marquez, has pole. The two-time MotoGP World Champion, has won here, before. Can he do so again? Once again, Michele Pirro is standing in for the injured Danilo Petrucci in this race. Local rider Yonny Hernandez, starts caboose on the field today. 21 riders, ready to rumble, in Argentina. Recall, that a year ago in this race, Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi, were involved in a serious tangle. The bikes set off on their last sighting lap, before the race begins. The spare bikes are fired up, and ready, for when the flag to flag situation comes around at the mid point of this race, ladies and gentlemen.
One place to watch on this speedway, is the long back straightaway, between turns four and five. There is a breeze. Will it keep the clouds away, or cause them to increase? We'll see what the weather does. If it starts raining, there will be a red flag and the race will restart. We are ready for a race start, here in Argentina, for round two of MotoGP 2016. It's flag-to-flag, and we're away! Valentino Rossi wheelies off the starting line, and spins the rear tire. This will put him down a few places for sure. Who comes out in the lead? It is Jorge Lorenzo. Andrea Iannone nearly tags Marc Marquez.
Iannone runs wide, and forces Dani Pedrosa to do likewise. Andrea Dovizioso on the Ducati, is already looking racy. Who has the power onto the back straight? Who has the brakes, to stop the motorcycle, and get it turned into corner number five? Valentino Rossi has recovered from spinning the rear tire, and it, digging into the pavement, to come back to second place in this MotoGP race. He runs ahead of Yamaha team mate Jorge Lorenzo. Andrea Ianonne has been shuffled down to eighth spot. Maverick Vinales on the Suzuki dives inside Jorge Lorenzo on the Yamaha. Lorenzo is now feeling the heat, from Hector Barbera.
Andrea Dovizioso and Ducati lead in Argentina at this stage. He, Valentino Rossi, and Marc Marquez open a margin on the rest of the field, and Rossi, he looks to be going for the lead! Not now. He can't get it away from Dovizioso. Marc Marquez is chasing the Italians in front. Rossi cannot slipstream the Ducati down the back straight. Oh dear! Two riders have crashed out in turn five. It's game over for Cal Crutchlow and LCR Honda, and the sister factory Suzuki ridden by Aleix Espargaro. Rossi closes on Dovizioso and the scrum between Lorenzo and Barbera is also still at full steam.
Correction, fans. It is not game over for Crutchlow or Aleix Espargaro. Both of them have rejoined the race. Jorge Lorenzo cannot find the speed, and is languishing. Last year's world champion, is down in sixth. The top three still battle. Rossi is trying to close on Dovizioso, and denies Marquez a chance to pass. Rossi looks like he is showing his prowess as the king of the late brakers on a MotoGP bike. At the end of the start finish straight, was where Marc Marquez, had a crash, in qualifying. Andrea Iannone sets fast lap of the race thus far at 1:41.940.
Maverick Vinales is flying, and judging from the aforementioned fast lap, so is Iannone on the Ducati. Watch out for Jack Miller, too. He has charged his way up to seventh place. Rossi just does not have the grunt in that Yamaha to get by the Ducati. Again, he tries to pass, but Dovizioso slams the door in his face. Vinales and Iannone continue closing up on the top three, to make this a dogfight for the top five places in the race! Another crash. Game over for Yonny Hernandez. Marc Marquez swoops inside Valentino Rossi, and makes it look easy.
Marquez wastes no time, and now wants to pounce on Andrea Dovizioso. Shiya ka-zing! Marquez flies around Dovizioso, nearly runs wide, and keeps the lead, anyway! Marquez is flying as Andrea Iannone sets yet another fast lap at 1:41.566. Maverick Vinales is now fourth. But, after his brilliant pass on Jorge Lorenzo, Jack Miller has crashed, ditching the bike. Marquez passes Dovizioso after Dovizioso tries putting a move on the Italian. Speaking of Italian riders, Valentino Rossi is also making a pass on Dovizioso as we speak. Rossi just barely hangs on to second spot. Miller low sides his Honda into turn six.
Chaps, that MotoGP bike, is headed, for the junkyard. One MotoGP bike, slightly used, needs damage repaired. $1 million, or best offer. A number of the riders are going to gamble. They are going to take their mandatory tire change pit stops, earlier, than the rules mandated for this race. Marc Marquez has now reset fast lap, lowering it to 1:41.454. Aleix Espargaro and his Suzuki have returned to the fray, with crash damage on the motorcycle. In tandem, Cal Crutchlow and Aleix Espargaro, slid off their bikes, after the front ends washed away.
Who can win the 100 meter sprint to pick up their bike? Good job those blokes got on the right bike, or, that would have been a major problem! What seems to be the problem?, asks the police officer. Crutchlow and Espargaro try to explain. He stole my bike! Of course, this is racing. This is not, grand theft motorcycle. Crutchlow could have jumped on the wrong bike. But, he would have to sign a Suzuki contract, first. Both riders OK, and back into the race, on their own motorcycles. Now, we return you, to your regularly scheduled program, here on the sarcasm channel.
Working lap four of this race as Marc Marquez is stretching out a good gap, so he can pit, switch bikes, and get back out, in the race lead. Ducati team mates, and one passes another. Iannone passes Dovizioso. No harm, no foul. Dovizioso cuts back inside at the last possible second. New fast lap from Marquez. Same song, second verse. 1:41 flat. A time of 1:41.022 to be exact. Maverick Vinales runs wide into the corner. Do the Suzuki's like wide turns? Hard to tell. Oh no! Disaster! Reigning world champion, Jorge Lorenzo is down, and out!
Game over for Jorge Lorenzo! No repeat win today. Nil points for the champ. Lorenzo lost the front end going into turn one, and the bike smashes the pavement in a shower of sparks. Did Lorenzo clip a damp patch of pavement? Was their debris on the road? We don't know. We've seen issues for the Moto2 riders there in their race, which will be coming up, here on 2 Wheelin' tomorrow. Stay tuned for that. Dovizioso and Iannone are racing each other. That's fascinating. But, what it is allowing, is for the top two (Marquez and Rossi) to whistle off into the distance.
Marquez runs a 1:40.861 and ekes out a tenth of a second on Rossi. We work lap seven. Two more laps until the pit window opens. There may be debris hanging off the back of Marquez's motorcycle. Looking at a replay of the start, Andrea Ianonne was way too hot into the first corner, all over the road, and could have dumped the bike, if he hadn't caught the rear brake in time. New fast lap now. 1:40.779 for Rossi on lap seven. The piece hanging off Marquez's bike is the rear facing on board camera. Rossi closes on Marquez and the two Ducati's hold the Suzuki at bay.
Decision time is coming up. Ducati and Honda have their mechanics in pit lane, ready to go. Suzuki and Aprilia do as well. Maverick Vinales flies by both factory Ducati's to put the sole remaining Suzuki into third place. If there are worries for Marc Marquez about the loose on board camera, he will be changing bikes, so, it should be of zero consequence. Marquez has the word, box, written on his pit board. This is a battle for the lead between Marquez and Rossi. The crowd goes crazy! Rossi sweeps inside Marquez, and then, Marquez makes an inside move and passes him back.
Shades of a year ago, here in Argentina. The showdown has returned. Will these two come in together for pit stops, just to add more drama and thicken the plot? Rossi runs wide, and that allowed Marquez to dive into the lead. These two will pit together. Both of their pit boards, say, Box, on them. But, each rider elects to do another lap on the circuit. Maverick Vinales and Andrea Iannone are the first riders into the lane. Dani Pedrosa, Eugene Laverty, and Loris Baz, also swap to their backup bikes with the other tires. Hector Barbera and Stefan Bradl are also in.
Now, back to the front, as Rossi closes on Marquez. Deja vu all over again, seeing Marquez and Rossi tussling for the lead here. Rossi wants to set Marquez up for a pass in the braking zone. But no! Marquez says, "no way, Valentino! You're not getting the spot." Marquez is in P1 again, and this is not for track position folks. This is for position in the pit lane when these two make their stops to switch tires and bikes. Here they come, now. Rossi swaps to the spare Yamaha and is away. Ditto for Marquez. They are back into the race.
With these flag to flag races, and pit action, it can be dangerous. A mechanic for Alvaro Bautista got pushed around, and the medics are checking him over. Ten laps to go. Valentino Rossi has to charge by Tito Rabat to catch up to Marc Marquez. Rabat is currently second. Rossi has to play catch up. He's 2.7 seconds behind Marc Marquez. Marquez is really pulling out a lead over Rossi, and he's in very good shape right now. Rossi on his pit exit, was distracted for a moment, by Tito Rabat. Eight laps now remain in the second MotoGP race of the season. If Eugene Laverty gets a top ten, it will be his best MotoGP finish.
Scoring points in this race, are the top fifteen riders. Right now that order is Marquez, Rossi, Vinales, Dovizioso, Iannone, Pedrosa, Redding, Barbera, Espargaro, Laverty, Bradl, Baz, Rabat, Smith, and Crutchlow. Redding moves inside Dani Pedrosa. He had loads of problems in qualifying, and has come back from that, to have a great race. Eight laps left, and Marc Marquez seems to have this one in the bag already. But, don't want to speak too soon. Maverick Vinales is half a second quicker than Andrea Dovizioso, wanting his first MotoGP podium. Cal Crutchlow has passed a couple of riders. Marc Marquez just got in front of Tito Rabat.
Marc Marquez has gotten faster, and it looks like Marquez might sew up a win here in Argentina. Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Ianonne, were half a second quicker than Maverick Vinales on the last lap. So, if Vinales does not gain more ground to stay ahead, the Ducati's could gulp him down in an instant. Rossi is six seconds behind Marquez, who hopes to recover well, after having a big spill in qualifying. Vinales is eight tenths of a second faster, in lap time, than Rossi is. 1:40.7 to 1:41.5 on the time splits. Rossi has had no pace since switching his bike. Hector Barbera and Pol Espargaro are battling.
Rossi is now under pressure. Vinales will attack in turn 13. Rossi has been fading ever since he swapped to his backup bike. Game over for Scott Redding. Something mechanical has packed up on his Pramac Ducati. Rossi is trying mightily to fend off the challenge from Espargaro, Dovizioso, and Ianonne. Vinales closes, as Rossi may have handling issues on the Yamaha even if he's running quicker lap times. Vinales pulls the pin and makes his move! Rossi won't give him anything, and just barely moves back in front! The sun breaks through the clouds in Argentina, just before this great race, comes to an end.
Vinales is having the blowtorch applied by Andrea Iannone on the Ducati. Three laps remain for Marc Marquez. Ianonne pressures Vinales. But, that pressure is too much. Vinales loses the front end of the Suzuki, and goes down, sliding, regaining his footing to try to get back in the race. He was headed for his first ever MotoGP podium. So, Vinales must be gutted. A damp patch on the road, sent Vinales skidding out of this race. Rossi has more breathing space now. Rossi has had a good ride in this race, despite his problems. But, Andrea Ianonne and also, Andrea Dovizioso, are closing. Ianonne is close, and his Ducati will have the horsepower over Rossi's Yamaha.
Once more, as in Qatar, Ducati has released the sharks. They are the hunters, and Rossi and Yamaha, are live bait. Chomp! Ianonne comes through, and passes Rossi, and look at Dovizioso! The door was open, so he says, "excuse me" and just slips through, right behind his team mate. Rossi won't play dead. He's fighting back past Ianonne. It's the last lap. No doubt, Marc Marquez and Repsol Honda have this one, in the bag. Rossi is trying to come back, and salvage a podium. Half a lap remains now. Rossi closes up.
He tries Ianonne, and can't do it! Ianonne cuts back and gets back onto the podium. Andrea Dovizioso is second. Ianonne closes on Dovizioso. Marquez will surely win. Who will get second? That's the race we'll watch, fans. We salute Marc Marquez as race winner in Argentina! But, hang on folks, there's a final, dramatic twist in our story! Both Ducati's have crashed out, together! Christmas has come early, for Valentino Rossi! He salvages a podium place! Dani Pedrosa will come through, and put the second Repsol Honda on the podium!
The cardinal rule in racing of any kind, is don't take out your team mate. The Ducati boys, broke rule number one, and will face a thrashing from team management. Eugene Laverty fourth, Hector Barbera fifth, and Pol Espargaro, sixth. Let's look at a replay of the Ducati disaster. Ianonne is inside Dovizioso, and it seems thatr Ianonne was the one, to instigate the crash. Michele Pirro crosses the line after pushing his bike across in 13th place. Honda are back in this. Eugene Laverty is fourth. The Ducati incident is under investigation by the stewards.
#93 Marc Marquez ESP. Honda
Marc Marquez has a 41 point lead in the World Championship, with an eight point cushion on Valentino Rossi. This is Marquez's first win since Australia last October. Marquez has his 25th MotoGP win, and that puts him in company with Texan Kevin Schwantz on the all-time win list. The irony is, Texas, is our next race. The first of two United States rounds for MotoGP, at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, this coming weekend.
Marquez has won at COTA for the last three consecutive years. What can he do? Will the other riders in MotoGP stop him? We'll find out next weekend.
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