Marc Marquez Triumphs in Argentina, Matching Angel Nieto’s Career Wins

Marc Marquez claimed a stunning victory at the Argentina Grand Prix, securing his 90th career win and equaling the legendary Angel Nieto’s record. The Ducati Lenovo Team rider put on a masterful display at Termas de Rio Hondo, overcoming a mid-race scare to outduel his brother, Alex Marquez, and take the checkered flag with a commanding lead.

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The race’s pivotal moment came on the fifteenth lap when Marc attempted to close in on Alex, only for his rear tire to protest the aggressive push. A brief loss of grip forced him to momentarily yield ground, but two laps later, he regrouped and launched his first attack at Turn 5. He briefly seized the lead but ran wide, allowing Alex to reclaim the position.

Undeterred, Marc continued his charge, making the decisive move on lap 18 when his brother hesitated heading into Turn 5. From that moment on, the six-time MotoGP champion controlled the race, crossing the finish line over a second ahead of his younger sibling. The victory marked a clean sweep of the opening two rounds of the 2025 season, with the Marquez brothers finishing first and second in both the Tissot Sprint and Sunday GP.

Morbidelli’s Long-Awaited Return to the Podium

Franco Morbidelli delivered a stellar performance, securing third place and returning to the podium for the first time in 1,414 days. The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team rider, starting from eighth on the grid, wasted no time in climbing the ranks. By lap four, he had overtaken teammate Francesco Bagnaia to settle into third.

Opting for a soft rear tire while most of the field ran a medium compound, Morbidelli initially kept pace with the leading duo. Concerns over tire degradation arose, but he managed his pace expertly, ultimately finishing nearly five seconds behind Marc Marquez.

Bagnaia Falls Short in the Chase

Reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia had to settle for fourth place after an early battle with Johann Zarco. Although he pulled away from the Frenchman and began closing in on Morbidelli late in the race, he couldn’t bridge the final gap before the checkered flag.

Zarco, running fifth for most of the contest, lost the position on the final lap to a charging Fabio Di Giannantonio, who, like Morbidelli, had opted for the soft rear tire.

Binder Leads Non-Ducati Contingent

Brad Binder finished seventh on the Red Bull KTM RC16, marking the best result for a non-Ducati rider. He trailed Zarco by seven seconds and was more than 14 seconds behind race winner Marc Marquez.

Rookie Ai Ogura impressed with an eighth-place finish aboard the Trackhouse Racing MotoGP Aprilia RS-GP but was later disqualified due to a technical infringement. Marco Bezzecchi’s race ended in disappointment as he crashed at Turn 1, colliding with Fabio Quartararo.

The top Yamaha rider was Alex Rins, who finished in 11th place for Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP, as the M1 struggled to match the pace of its rivals.

With the Marquez brothers dominating the opening rounds of the season, the 2025 championship battle is shaping up to be a thrilling affair. Can their rivals mount a stronger challenge in the coming races, or will the Marquez reign continue unchecked?