The start of the last Argentinian Grand Prix to date in 2023 took place in extremely difficult conditions. The two crash victims on a predominantly wet track were Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) and Francesco Bagnaia (Lenovo Ducati). The weather forecast for this season calls for warm and dry conditions, assuming things continue this way.

Before the MGP Grand Prix of Argentina

It’s been 11 years since Marc Marquez last arrived at the second round of MotoGP as world championship leader, but unlike today, it was in Texas in 2014, with Las Termas de Rio Hondo following one round later. Despite this, he arrived then as a double winner, just like this season. The reason for this is the new format introduced two years ago, with a sprint race like in WorldSBK. Points are awarded in MotoGP according to the same pattern. But all officials and writers would be careful not to add up the victories in the prototypes as in the production-based world championship. However, none of this matters to Marquez, and just like in his second GP season, he arrives in South America as leader of the interim standings. However, it’s not just the colors of his leathers and motorcycle that have changed since then. After all, the best rider in the premier class won the premiere in Argentina back then, and the signs are excellent for a win this time too. Because the Circuit of the Americas in Texas, one of the favorite tracks of the exceptional talent from Catalonia, follows next, his competitors may soon have to brace themselves.

What can happen when a rider like Marc Marquez is in his comfort zone can be seen in our graphic for the 2014 season. Even Valentino Rossi in top form could do nothing against the dominance of the best MotoGP rider of all time in the first ten of the 18 laps.

The history of the Argentine Motorcycle Grand Prix

The so-called World Championship, which from our perspective only really launched in 1952, was in fact a continuation of the pre-World War II European Championship until 1960. In its final years up to 1939, German drivers and factories dominated, although from 1949 to 1951 they were not allowed to participate for political reasons (what nonsense). You can find out more about this era and its heroes in our richly illustrated history on this page. The first overseas event to be added to the calendar for the 1961 season was Buenos Aires in Argentina, the season finale. This was problematic under the regulations at the time because, with discarded results and far fewer laps, the world champions were often already decided very early in the year. As a result of this, and due to the high travel costs, the starting field was naturally very modest compared to the European races. This promptly led to some rather exotic names on the top two steps of the podium at the premier class’s premiere, names that hardly anyone in Europe had heard of before their success. However, this should not diminish the achievements of Jorge Kissling (ARG/Matchless) and Juan Carlos Salatino (ARG/Norton). After all, they had beaten an established man in World Championship bronze medalist Frank Perris (GBR/Norton).

Our statistics for the Grand Prix races held in Argentina so far show two clear dominators. Before MotoGP, this was Australian superstar Mick Doohan, whose son is starting his career in Formula 1 this season. After the return of four-strokes in 2002, it would take over a decade for the South American country to be reinstated on the calendar with Termas de Rio Hondo. This marked the beginning of Marc Marquez’s impressive streak, at least in qualifying, as he also crossed the finish line three times.
Our compilation of the FIM World Championship regulations from 1949 to the present day. Compared to today, the initial period, as well as the brief period in 1988, was in Superbike, a complete joke. Consistency was generally punished rather than rewarded, and the number of rounds for a World Championship was truly ridiculous, considering the number of races in the smaller categories in our history. For example, in 1949, the 125 cc class was decided with a total of three races in Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Italy.

What can fans and spectators expect in the second round?

It is almost certain that there will be some very exciting races regardless of the weather conditions. In 2019, for example, eight other riders crossed the finish line within one second of Jaume Masia in Moto3. Moto2 winner Lorenzo Baldassari also had three riders close behind him when he saw the checkered flag. Only Marc Marquez, on the Repsol Honda, had literally demoralized his opponents in the premier class, especially his arch-rival Valentino Rossi on the Yamaha. A certain Francesco Bagnaia, on the Pramac Ducati, crossed the finish line 32.893 seconds behind the exceptional talent from Catalonia, for which he still received two points in fourteenth place. Of course, the signs are much better for the Italian this time as Marc’s Ducati factory team colleague, but various observers currently have doubts about whether he can stay in his slipstream. Above all, he has another opponent in Marc’s brother Alex (Gresini Ducati), who undoubtedly suits this track and who already showed him the rear end twice in a row at the season opener in Buri Ram. Also to be considered in the battle for the top spot are the likes of Jack Miller (Pramac Yamaha), Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing), and possibly also Honda spearhead Johann Zarco and his three fellow Honda riders. Perhaps Fabio Quartararo and his Yamaha factory teammate Alex Rins can also spring a surprise this time.

A map of the rather demanding Las Termas de Rio Hondo circuit, with nine right-hand turns and five left-hand turns, as well as a fairly long straight after Turn 3, measuring 1,076 meters. At 4.81 km, the circuit is one of the longest in MotoGP, along with circuits like Austin, Losail, and Silverstone, and is considered very demanding. The number 93 has won here three times, and Cal Crutchlow and Marco Bezzecchi have each taken one win in MotoGP. Tight hairpins and sweeping corners ensure variety, and Marc Marquez still holds the track record with a 1:37.683 lap time since its inauguration in 2024.
Johann Zarco finished a surprise second in 2023, ahead of his Pramac Ducati, when he almost caught the winner, Marco Bezzecchi (VR46 Ducati), after a sensational comeback. At the back left, Alex Marquez, who completed the podium in third place for Gresini Ducati in the most recent Argentine Grand Prix. A year later, according to Dorna, the trip had to be canceled due to fire damage in the pit area. However, there were rumors that the catastrophic economic situation in the South American country was more likely responsible, and that Dorna had once again concealed the truth, as with other changes to plans.

Kick-off on Friday as expected

Those who were betting on Marc Marquez (Lenovo Ducati) as the rider to beat at the Argentinian Grand Prix felt completely vindicated in both practice sessions during the first showdown. In both the first free practice session and the second, which was about direct entry into Q2, there was no way around the undisputed best rider of the MotoGP era. Unsurprisingly, his arch-rival from the same team had a difficult start to the weekend and ultimately had to worry about not having to make it into Q1 like he did in Thailand. The state of his nerves became apparent shortly before the end of the race on Friday afternoon when the Italian found himself on the grass after his crash. His fellow brand riders Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio made a much better impression, losing only a small amount of time to Marc’s best time on their private 2024 Ducati. Very pleasingly, with the exception of Bagnaia, all of the rival brands placed in the following positions. Unsurprisingly, Marco Bezzechi (Aprilia Racing), the 2023 winner, finished fourth when the race was last held at Termas de Rio Hondo. As the only privateer rider not riding a Ducati, Johann Zarco once again shone as the fastest man for Honda, as he did at the season opener in Thailand. The fact that both factory riders from Yamaha and KTM were in the top ten underscores the current balance in the premier class of the Prototype World Championship.

The rankings from Friday afternoon impressively illustrated how close it was for “Pecco” Bagnaia, who secured his direct entry into Q2 on Saturday with a top ten finish of just 0.021 seconds ahead of rookie Ai Ogura wearing Aprilia track pants.

Outlook for the next rounds from 2025

While the first three rounds will be held on three of Marc Marquez’s favorite circuits, Qatar and Jerez, according to teammate Bagnaia, will be two tracks more suited to him. However, during his Honda years, the man with the number 93 also achieved numerous successes, at least in Andalusia. Before the pandemic, three wins and second places each year, as well as a worst result of third place in 2016, can hardly be described as disappointing results. The Spaniard has won once in Qatar in 2014 and, before his fatal injury in 2020, was on the podium four more times. In this respect, Pecco’s statement in the interview after the race in Buri Ram seems to be a case of expedient optimism. Incidentally, Le Mans, where the sixth round will be held this season, was by no means a bad place for Marquez either, with three GP wins and one podium up to 2019. In any case, one can’t blame various riders and other more or less competent experts for predicting the new addition to the Lenovo-Ducati team as the next world champion even before the season began. Teammate Francesco Bagnaia will have to prove in the near future whether he truly has the skills to compete seriously in the title fight. In any case, he can’t afford to end up in the gravel trap as often as he did last year, when he lost the number 1 to Jorge Martin at the end of the season.

In addition to the highest number of rounds to date, the 2025 MotoGP calendar offers some special features, such as the planned return of the Czech Republic and Hungary. Fans from the rest of the world will certainly be able to bear the omission of Kazakhstan (which never took place) and India (which the teams certainly won’t miss), if only due to the difficult travel options.
Marc Marquez on the Lenovo factory Ducati at the Thai Grand Prix. Shortly after his finish, teammate and one of his toughest competitors, “Pecco” Bagnaia, sounded extremely dismayed. According to the two-time world champion from Italy, the Spanish world championship favorite easily played with all his opponents during the race. Unsurprisingly, numerous commentators were already questioning the outcome of the 2025 world championship, as the following example demonstrates.

As an echo of the season opener in Buri Ram, here’s an excerpt from the Swiss sports television portal:
“It’s currently hard to imagine that anyone will be able to compete with the six-time MotoGP World Champion in the premier class this year. After the first of 22 GP weekends, he already leads Alex Marquez by 8 points and Bagnaia by 14 points. It’s unclear how strong defending champion Jorge Martin (who is still absent due to injury) will be on his factory Aprilia.”

Unless otherwise stated, this applies to all images (© MotoGP).