Agencies
Termas de Río Hondo (Argentina)
Marc Marquez triumphed over his younger brother Alex yet again to win the Argentina MotoGP at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit on Sunday.
The six-time world champion had also won the season-opener in Thailand a fortnight ago and now beat Alex in Saturday’s sprint and the main race from pole to maintain his perfect start.
The Spanish superstar was landing the first two races of the season for the first time since 2014. This was his first visit to the circuit since his third win at the track in 2019 and it proved a happy return with his 90th career Grand Prix.
His stellar start to life on board the factory Ducati leaves him atop the riders’ standings on 74 points as he pursues a seventh world title which would draw him level with Italian legend Valentino Rossi.
The 32-year-old Spaniard was imperious at this second leg of the 22-race season, topping the times in practice, nailing pole - a career 96th - with a track record, then confirming that domination in the sprint and Sunday’s race.
The sleepy spa town’s population of almost 30,000 was swelled significantly by the record 209,000 MotoGP fans descending on the venue to see the fastest men on two wheels in the world over the weekend
Fabio Quartararo and Marco Bezzecchi collided off the grid as Marquez held off his four-year younger brother to the first turn.
Alex Marquez pounced on a rare mistake by Marquez senior on lap four to lead just as he had done in the early stages of the race last time out in Thailand.
This family affair was being tracked by Franco Morbidelli, putting in a bold ride despite struggling from headaches over the weekend.
At the midway point of the 25-lap contest Alex was around half a dozen bike lengths clear as he began to visualise a first ever MotoGP success at his 94th attempt.
The pursuing Marquez had a worrying wobble on lap 16, but he shrugged that off to maintain his chase of the Ducati Gresini blue bike in his crosshairs.
He closed right up to his brother’s rear tyre with eight laps left to set up a gripping conclusion to the family feud.
He dived into the lead on turn five of lap 18 only for Alex Marquez to extinguish the danger.
Alex was defending superbly under pressure, but with five laps to go his brother finally seized control, speeding away to take the chequered flag for another dominant victory.
Morbidelli completed the podium on Ducati’s VR46 bike.
The 25-lap race was preceded by a tango, it takes two to perform Argentina’s national dance and Marc paid tribute to Alex for keeping him on his toes out on the track.
“Alex was pushing, and controlling the race. I thought to be second today is okay then I started to feel better, but it’s difficult to attack my brother! “I was super impressed with Alex today,” said Marc.
On drawing level with 90 GP wins of late Spanish motorbike icon Angel Nieto Marquez added: “I’m super happy to equal Angel, he was and is super important for Spanish motorcycling, it’s an honour.”
