Rossi's race after clash with Marquez

MotoGP
1. Valentino Rossi, Movistar Yamaha, 41m 35.644s
2. Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati Team, +5.685s
3. Cal Crutchlow, CWM LCR Honda, +8.298s
Australian
12. Jack Miller, CWM LCR Honda, +42.654s

Pole Position: Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda, 1:37.802 = 176.9 km/h
Fastest lap and new record: Rossi, 1:39.019 = 174.7 km/h

Championship top 3
Rossi 66 • Dovizioso 60 • Andrea Iannone, Ducati Team, 40

MotoGP warhorse Valentino Rossi gambled on tyre choice and it paid off with a superb victory at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit in Argentina — but only after a penultimate lap clash with Marc Marquez that left the reigning world champion a DNF and now 30pts behind his Italian rival in the general standings.

Marquez, who started from pole position, made his customary bolt from the start while Rossi had to pick his way through for the third row of the grid before he finally moved into second position at the expense of Andrea Dovizioso with 15 laps to go. At that stage, Rossi's extra hard rear tyre was starting to come into its own while Marquez's hard hoop — one rung below Rossi's — was on its way down. Rossi bridged the four-second gap to Marquez and then made a pass with a lap-and-a-half to go. The duo touched mid-corner and then on the way out Marquez clipped the back of Rossi's Yamaha and went down, unable to remount.

The rear-ender was investigated but was deemed a "racing incident".

“When I arrived, it was a shame that he (Marc) crashed, but for me he made a mistake because Marc is a rider who will always go all-in," said Rossi. "It was a great race and I knew I had the pace. I just tried to concentrate and ride at 100 per cent. This year we can fight until the very end."

Marquez said that he chose the hard tyre as it was the only way he felt he could beat Rossi. The world champion said: “When he passed me, well… you can see what happened in the video. I love Valentino and it is always difficult to beat him; he is my hero and I always learn something when I ride against him.”

Dovizioso completed his third consecutive second place, while Cal Crutchlow pinched third spot in the last turn from Andrea Iannone (Ducati Team). Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha) and Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) completed the top six, ahead of the Espargaro siblings — front row starter Aleix (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Pol (Monster Yamaha Tech 3). Australia's Jack Miller (CWM LCR Honda) showed his best form yet as the first Open class bike home in 12th position.

Rossi has now moved to 66pts, from Dovizioso (60), Iannone (40), Lorenzo (37) and Marquez (36).

Pole Position: Zarco, 1:42.809 = 168.2 km/h
Fastest lap and new record: Jonas Folger, AGR Team, 1:43.001 = 167.9 km/h                    

Championship top 3
Zarco 53 • Rins 49 • Lowes 41

Just like Sam Lowes in Austin, this time it was the turn of Johann Zarco to claim his maiden Moto2 victory after starting from pole position. His winning margin was a comfortable three seconds over increasingly impressive rookie Alex Rins, with Zarco also taking over the world championship lead from his rival by 4pts. Lowes was third, one-second ahead of world number two Mika Kallio (Italtrans Racing Team).

At one stage, Lowes had Zarco in his sights but couldn’t complete the mission — and then Rins passed him with two laps to go as the Brit labored with tyre problems.

Reigning world champion Tito Rabat (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) claimed the holeshot but then ran wide after dicing with Zarco for the lead. He rejoined the track at the back of the field, eventually finishing in 12th, two spots ahead of Australia's Anthony West (QMMF Racing).

Moto3  
1. Danny Kent, Leopard Racing, 38m 25.621s
2. Efren Vazquez, Leopard Racing, +10.334s
3. Isaac Vinales, Husqvarna Factory Laglisse, +10.396s
Australian
19. Remy Gardner, CIP, +30.409s

Pole Position: Miguel Oliveira, Red Bull KTM Ajo, 1:48.461 = 159.5 km/h
Fastest lap and new record: Oliveira, 1:48.977 = 158.7 km/h

Championship top 3
Kent 66 • Vazquez 49 • Enea Bastianini 40

Danny Kent is really breaking the Moto3 model: after winning by eight seconds in America, he upped the ante again in Argentina with an even more emphatic 10-second triumph, with his teammate Efren Vazquez finishing in second place from Isaac Vinales.

The last time a British rider won back-to-back races in the lightweight class was Barry Sheene way back in 1971.

“The race was a bit boring! I like a scrap,” joked Kent. “We were strong in Austin and carried that on. Everyone has worked so hard and it’s paying off for everyone involved.”

There was drama before the race when Romano Fenati was involved in a disagreement during warm-up that saw him strike out at Niklas Ajo. The incident saw him receive three penalty points, adding to his one from the race in Argentina last year, and he had to start from the back of the grid. The fiery Italian fought hard to salvage eighth position.

Australia's Remy Gardner (CIP Mahindra) was 18th.

ARGENTINA RESULTS AND CURRENT STANDINGS