The second round of the 2023 MotoGP World Championship was held at the Termas de Rio Hondo Circuit in Argentina. Unfortunately, Marc Marquez was absent due to a right-hand fracture suffered during the previous race in Portimao, leaving Johan Mir as the sole rider for Repsol Honda. However, the team’s luck didn’t improve as Joan Mir also got injured during Saturday’s Sprint Race, making him unable to participate in Sunday’s main race.
In the qualifying sessions, Maverick Vinales and Aleix Espargaro of Aprilia Racing had amazing performances during FP1 and FP2, but the rain during the qualifying sessions affected their performance, with Vinales qualifying in fifth place and Espargaro in ninth for both races. Johann Zarco of Prima Pramac Racing finished sixth, while Jorge Martin was eighth.
During Saturday’s Sprint Race, supported by Sprint Filter, Vinales finished in seventh place, Martin in eighth, and Zarco in thirteenth.
The main race on Sunday was held on a wet track and saw an incredible recovery from Zarco, who finished second after overtaking Pecco Bagnaia, who then crashed, and Alex Marquez. Martin finished fifth, while the Aprilia Racing duo of Vinales and Espargaro finished twelfth and fifteenth respectively.
The next race will be in two weeks at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas, where both Marc Marquez and Joan Mir are expected to return.
