Aprilia Racing consolidated its status as the team to beat coming into qualifying for the Argentinian MotoGP at Termas de Rio Hondo after once more locking down a 1-2 result in Practice 2, this time with Aleix Espargaro leading Maverick Vinales. A venue that seems perfectly suited to the RS-GP, Aprilia’s punchy 1-2 knockout results in Friday’s two practice sessions come 12 months after the Italian manufacturer celebrated its first - and so far only - MotoGP victory at the South American venue.
Indeed, the odds of a repeat result this year have now been slashed on the back of a formidable showing all day from the Spanish pair..
After Vinales led the way in P1, Espargaro took over at the top in P2, the MotoGP veteran fastest of all at the flag with a 1m 38.518 lap, a comfortable +0.162s clear of his team-mate in second place.
Though forced to play second fiddle to its fierce Italian rivals, the typically substantial Ducati contingent remains well poised just behind with Desmosedici bikes occupying the next five positions.