Valentino Rossi powers to victory in Argentina

Valentino Rossi wins the Argentinian Grand Prix with absolute power starting from 8th on the grid and slicing almost 4,5 seconds lead held by Marc Marquez, but unfortunately Marc crashed out of the race on the penultimate lap after touching Rossi´s rear tyre.

The race started with Marc opting to run a hard tyre on the last minute while Rossi deciding for the extra hard rear unlike everyone. At the start the Suzuki of Espargaro led the way but poleman Marquez soon took the race lead in a few corners and started to pull away. Lorenzo managed to get into 2nd but Rossi was stuck in 8th for a while. The Ducatis of Dovizioso, Iannone and the Honda of Crutchlow were duelling ahead of Rossi.

By lap 2 Marquez was already 1 second ahead of Lorenzo in 2nd. and by Lap 6 Marquez was leading 3seconds from Cruthclow in 2nd and 4secs from Rossi in 6th. Meanwhile Rossi slowly started reel in the leading pack first taking out team mate Lorenzo and then Iannone, Crutchlow and finally Dovizioso by lap 10 while Marquez was still a 4.2seconds ahead of Rossi.

Once in clear air the 7time world champion slowly started to ease away from Dovizioso but not fast enough to close Marquez. But with 10laps to go, the senior rider started make serious inroads into the lead of Marqeuz and by lap20 the lead was reduced to just 1sec. 

Rossi came ever closer to Marquez with 4 laps to go, looking set for a great battle for victory between the old horse and the young champion. Rossi looked so strong with his extra grip and Marquez was sliding all around to maintain the lead. On the penultimate lap Rossi made the first move which was soon re-taken by Marquez. Just few corners later at the end of the back straight Rossi attacked on the brake, Marc braked late too but went shaky and wide letting Rossi to take the corner, but Marquez immediately tried to get on the inside and just in the apex of the corner the two riders touched with Rossi having the line and ahead of Marquez.

On the exit Marc tried to tow with Rossi but got clipped in the change of direction with his front tyre touching the rear tyre of Rossi and thus ending up in the gravel leaving Rossi to win lonely without a fight after a brilliant charge.

Dovizioso came in 2nd but the move of the day was by Crutchlow taking Iannone on the last corner to get in the podium. Lorenzo finished 5th. Bradley Smith came in 6th ahead of Aleix Espargaro on the Suzuki.

Pol Espargaro on the satellite Yamaha finished 8th ahead of Scot Redding and Maverick Vinales who rounded the top10.

Race direction dismissed the Rossi/Marquez incident as a racing incident.