MotoGP: Marco Bezzecchi reigns supreme in tough conditions at Argentina GP, Francesco Bagnaia suffers shock crash

Team VR 46’s Marco Bezzecchi produced a sensational performance to take the first MotoGP victory of his career at a rain-affected Argentina Grand Prix at Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo.

The Italian, who started the race in second place, took the lead on the opening lap and remained out in front until the end. The Pramac Ducati of Johann Zarco made up two places on the final two laps to finish in second place, with Alex Marquez rounding off the podium in third.

With track conditions proving difficult, Bezzecchi took everything in his stride, and pulled out a big gap of 6.5 seconds to Marquez behind him during the middle part of the race.

Defending world champion Francesco Bagnaia, who remained in third place for the majority of the race, eventually got past Marquez on Lap 15 and moved up into second, and look set to take the second podium position.

Three laps later, it all came crashing down for the factory Ducati rider, who lost it on the bike and crashed, dropping all the way down to P16 and out of the points altogether.

At the front, Bezzecchi crossed the line over five seconds clear of Zarco behind him to take his maiden Premier Class victory, and move to the top of the riders championship.

The 24-year-old from Rimini now leads the Bagnaia in the standings by nine points ahead of the upcoming Americas Grand Prix in two weeks’ time.

RIDER OF THE DAY – JOHANN ZARCO (PRIMA PRAMAC RACING)

The French rider, who started in sixth place on the grid, had a storming final couple of laps on his Pramac Ducati bike to make up two key positions and snatch a podium place away from Yamaha’s Franco Morbidelli.

With two laps remaining, the 32-year-old made a bold move down the back straight into the hairpin of turn five to get past Marquez and held off the Spaniard until the end of the race.

Zarco, who had a disappointing Sprint race on Saturday – finishing 13th – will be delighted to make up for that performance and take home 20 championship points for his team.

WHERE THE RACE WAS WON AND LOST

LAP 1/25: BEZZECCHI TAKES THE LEAD – We are underway here in Termas! It is a poor getaway from Alex Marquez from pole and he has lost the lead to Marco Bezzecchi! Bagnaia remains in third, and Morbidelli is in fourth in the factory Yamaha. Brad Binder is down on the track and has crashed! It remains to be seen if he can get his KTM going again. The VR46 rider is out in front.

LAP 15/25: PECCO INTO P2 – Bagnaia has finally decided to turn up the levels, and is attacking Marquez for P2. He initially gets past him, but Marquez attacks him back. Eventually though, the Italian makes the move stick into Turn 1, and moves up to P2. How much can he take out of Bezzecchi’s lead?

LAP 18/25: BAGNAIA CRASHES! – Pecco Bagnaia crashes out at the penultimate corner from P2! What a moment in this race! The defending champion manages to get the Ducati going again, but he is all the way down in P16! Drama! And does it mean that Bezzecchi has this win wrapped up?

LAP 24/25: ZARCO MAKING MOVES – There is not long to go! Bezzecchi is taking it slightly easier to the line as the gap is dropping. Over five seconds behind, Zarco is making moves, and has made two brilliant overtakes to get past both Morbidelli and Marquez to move into second, with the latter a brilliant overtake under braking into the hairpin at the end of the back straight.

LAP 25/25: MAIDEN WIN FOR MARCO! – Bezzecchi takes the chequered flag to take his maiden Premier Class victory! What a moment for the young rider and for his whole team. A controlled performance. Johann Zarco made headway in the final laps, and seals a superb second place, with Marquez having to settle for third place. Heartbreaking for Franco Morbidelli to have the podium snatched away. Bezzecchi leads the Championship!