Aleix Espargaro claimed his first ever Grand Prix victory in the ArgentinaGP and the first for Aprilia in the MotoGP era.
While a victory from pole, it was hard-fought as Pramac’s Jorge Martin battled the RS-GP for the entire duration. Success coming in the final laps as the Ducati rider settled for second, ahead of Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins.
Espargaro lined up for his 200th premier class start from the head of the MotoGP grid. A first for Aprilia in the modern era and history making with Espargaro the first rider to claim pole positions on three different manufacturers in the premier class. Pramac Racing’s Martin and Mooney VR46’s Luca Marini joined him on the front row with brother Pol and teammate Maverick Viñales alongside reigning champion Fabio Quartararo on row two.
Lights out for 25 laps and Martin took control with Espargaro and Marini battling for second. Rins advancing to fourth from the third row as he bettered the Repsol Honda before Pol Espargaro struck back. While Idemitsu LCR’s Takaaki Nakagami circulated seventh from tenth after nearly missing the weekend entirely having testing positive for Covid-19.
On-grid issues for Andrea Dovizioso were compounded as the WithU RNF Yamaha retired his M1 at the end of lap one. Joan Mir joining his Suzuki Ecstar teammate in the top six as they pushed for the podium with Marini. The younger Espargaro forced to defend from the approaching trio but over a second adrift of his brother ahead.
A disastrous start found Quartararo running 13th by the start of lap four. Fellow Frenchman Johann Zarco one place ahead with KTM’s Miguel Oliveira and Jack Miller behind. The second factory Ducati of Pecco Bagnaia recovering from his own painful Saturday to sit ninth as the race unfolded.
Martin held a half second advantage after five laps of the Termas layout. The Espargaro brothers locking out the final podium positions with Rins, Marini and Mir heading the second Aprilia. Zarco crashing out from 12th on the Pramac at turn two next time around.
Monster Energy Yamaha’s Franky Morbidelli fell to the back of the pack on lap seven as his M1 suffered a puncture and he was forced to retire. Rins getting the better of the Repsol for third as the lap drew to a close, before pulling the pin for a fastest lap next time round.
Bagnaia circulated in eighth, just a tenth away from the Viñales/Marini battle as the race continued. Brad Binder neatly behind as the quartet bunched together, with championship leader Enea Bastianini over a second adrift at the edge of the top ten.
The top five began to spread out as Martin’s lead increased. The battle for sixth intensifying in contrast as Marini lost out, then retook his position from Bagnaia as the race neared middle distance. The Italian, however, lost the fight with 13 laps to go, Bagnaia then Binder sweeping through on the VR46 rider as Bastianini drew closer. The battle having built a 1.3s gap to Viñales in sixth.
Pol Espargaro’s race came to a dramatic end with a turn two crash on lap 15. His brother honing in on the leader with almost two-seconds of breathing space to the Suzuki duo behind.
Bastianini ran wide as his ninth place turned into 13th, Quartararo capitalising ahead of Nakagami, Marco Bezzecchi and Oliveira before the Gresini rider hit back at the KTM.
Espargaro circulated hard on the wheels of Martin with nine laps to go. Less then two-tenths spitting the pair out front before the Aprilia struck, briefly, before running too hot into turn five and allowing the Pramac back through.
Further back, the pack endured solitary races, over a second separating each of the third to eighth-placed men with Rins maintaining his podium run over the fellow Suzuki of Mir. An inter-team battle brewing between Marini and Bezzecchi with the rookie dispatching his teammate before issuing Bastianini the same fate seconds later on his way to ninth.
The Aprilia finally took charge with four laps to go. Espargaro putting his head down as his maiden victory on the RS-GP inched closer. The Catalan narrowly saving another trip wide as he maintained position over the now pursuing Martin. Teammate Viñales defending hard from Bagnaia further back for the top five.
Fabio Di Giannantonio became the latest faller as turn 11 claimed the Gresini rookie with three laps to go. Bagnaia and Binder bettering Viñales next time around as the Aprilia dropped to seventh.
With the flag flying, Espargaro crossed the line in historic style for his and the Noale factory’s first MotoGP victory. The 32-year-old taking the championship lead into the bargain, on his 200th premier class race with Martin and Rins completing the podium.
Mir secured fourth, just half a second adrift on the second Suzuki. An impressive comeback fight rewarding Bagnaia with fifth while Binder led Viñales and Quartararo in the top eight. Bezzecchi headed an all-Italian trio on the fringed of the top ten, with Nakagami, Oliveira, Miller and Alex Marquez rounding out the points finishers. Tech3 KTM’s Raul Fernandez and Remy Gardner completed the race ahead of Darryn Binder, Stefan Bradl and the rejoined Dovizioso.
