MotoGP Argentina: Espargaro makes history with maiden win

Aleix Espargaro claimed his first ever Grand Prix victory in the ArgentinaGP and the first for Aprilia in the MotoGP era.

While a victory from pole, it was hard-fought as Pramac’s Jorge Martin battled the RS-GP for the entire duration. Success coming in the final laps as the Ducati rider settled for second, ahead of Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins.

Espargaro lined up for his 200th premier class start from the head of the MotoGP grid. A first for Aprilia in the modern era and history making with Espargaro the first rider to claim pole positions on three different manufacturers in the premier class. Pramac Racing’s Martin and Mooney VR46’s Luca Marini joined him on the front row with brother Pol and teammate Maverick Viñales alongside reigning champion Fabio Quartararo on row two.

Lights out for 25 laps and Martin took control with Espargaro and Marini battling for second. Rins advancing to fourth from the third row as he bettered the Repsol Honda before Pol Espargaro struck back. While Idemitsu LCR’s Takaaki Nakagami circulated seventh from tenth after nearly missing the weekend entirely having testing positive for Covid-19.

On-grid issues for Andrea Dovizioso were compounded as the WithU RNF Yamaha retired his M1 at the end of lap one. Joan Mir joining his Suzuki Ecstar teammate in the top six as they pushed for the podium with Marini. The younger Espargaro forced to defend from the approaching trio but over a second adrift of his brother ahead.

A disastrous start found Quartararo running 13th by the start of lap four. Fellow Frenchman Johann Zarco one place ahead with KTM’s Miguel Oliveira and Jack Miller behind. The second factory Ducati of Pecco Bagnaia recovering from his own painful Saturday to sit ninth as the race