First MotoGP triumph for Rossi in new role

On Sunday in Termas de Rio Hondo, the Italian was at the top for the first time at his 22nd start in the motorcycling premier class: The 24-year-old from the VR46 junior team of retired superstar Valentino Rossi rushed to the front from second on the grid in difficult conditions Great and never gave up the position.

“I knew I could be fast, but I didn’t expect that fast,” said Bezzecchi, who also took the lead in the World Championship. Frenchman Johann Zarco and pole man Alex Marquez from Spain completed the Ducati podium on the wet track, more than four seconds behind. The Italian motorcycle builders from Bologna confirmed in the second race of the season that they are the measure of all things this year.

KTM rider Binder won the sprint race

World Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) and Saturday’s sprint winner, KTM rider Brad Binder, experienced a black Sunday in northern Argentina. Bagnaia, who won the opener in Portugal a week ago, fell in the rain, as did South African Binder, both missing out on World Championship points. Bezzecchi travels to Texas for the third stop in two weeks as the leader, nine points ahead of Bagnaia.

With Joan Mir, the fifth MotoGP pilot had to sit out the second World Championship race due to injury. The 2020 world champion suffered a head and cervical trauma in a crash in the sprint race, as Honda announced a few hours before the start.