Despite competing in Argentina on eight occasions Francesco Bagnaia has not featured on a podium at Termas de Rio Hondo.

Francesco Bagnaia finished third in the Sprint Race and Grand Prix at the season opener in Thailand.

The Italian lost out to the Marquez brothers who finished first and second in both races across the weekend. But Bagnaia believes his results were good considering the situation that he was in.

"Honestly, we had good results considering the situation," Bagnaia said.

"Everything that was under our control was done, and the rest was not working well. But in any case, we improved during the race weekend and we finished on the podium.

"But that was not my objective, but considering the situation it was at that part. Let's see this race weekend, I know it is a track where I clearly need to learn a bit more.

"Tomorrow we will try to adapt to the situation because I did two laps walking and the conditions are not the best. But we will try to improve and we will try to learn from what I did wrong in Thailand and try to be competitive from the first session."

Why has Bagnaia never had a podium in Argentina?

Despite racing at Argentina on eight different occasions it is one of the only circuits Bagnaia has never featured on the podium at.

The Italian has shown great pace at Termas de Rio Hondo but like his teammate has made mistakes when fighting at the front in the past.

"I crashed the last time we were here," Bagnaia explained.

"I crashed from a comfortable second place and I made a mistake in the second to last corner. I entered a bit too fast, every year I have made some sort of mistake in Qualifying or in the race.

"I think it is a good track and I like to ride here, I like the layout, I think it suits my riding style. So, there is always a first time."

Who does Bagnaia believe will be in race winning contention?

Having not been to Argentina since the 2023 MotoGP World Championship it is somewhat unknown as to who will be at the front.

Bagnaia expects the usual suspects of the Marquez brothers to fight for victory, but believes that Aprilia and KTM will have a say as well.

"They [Marc and Alex Marquez] will be competitive, like the other Ducatis, the Aprilias and the KTMs," Bagnaia said when speaking about the challengers for this weekend.

"It will not be an easy weekend for everybody, because, like Marc said, the track will improve session by session. The peak performance will be during Sunday's race, we just need to be prepared and adapt to the track and not the bike."