MotoGP

Argentine GP 2025 : Termas-terclass from the Márquez brothers

The Márquez brothers repeat 1-2 feat in Argentina, Marc achieves a historic 90th win.

Published

2 weeks ago

March 17, 2025

Argentine GP 2025 : Termas-terclass from the Márquez brothers

The Argentine GP at Termas de Río Hondo showcased a thrilling sibling rivalry as the Márquez brothers repeated their 1-2 feat in qualifying, the sprint race as well as the grand prix. This victory not only extended Marc’s unbeaten streak this season but also solidified the brothers’ dominance in the championship standings. Join us as we review, session by session, the spectacle of the Argentine GP.

Marc Márquez continues dominating, breaks long-standing records

Marc Marquez takes the chequered flag at the Argentine GP 2025. — Marc Márquez crosses the finish line after the GP victory. Credit: motogp.com

Just like the season opener in Buriram, Marc Márquez snatched the triple again – he got pole position in qualifying, victory in the sprint race and victory in the Grand Prix. Most impressively, however, over the course of the weekend, Marc Márquez set four new all-time lap records – one during Practice on Friday and the other three during Q2 on Saturday. He beat his own all-time lap record at this track which he had set back in 2014.

During the sprint race, Marc cruised to a rather comfortable victory. He had a good start off the line, and though he was initially pressured by his brother, he was able to break off in the latter stages, taking the chequered flag 0.903s ahead of Alex.

The race, however, was a completely different story. On the third lap, Marc made a mistake and ran wide, allowing his brother to take the lead. He had to spend a good chunk of the race battling against his own brother and was able to retake the lead on the 20th lap and cruise to a victory.

As tense as it gets! @marcmarquez93 takes the lead with 5 laps remaining 🚨#ArgentinaGP 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/xFZ805yNJr
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) March 16, 2025

This victory is Marc’s 90th in all of GP racing combined, and he has equalled Ángel Nieto’s record, taking the third place for most victories in GP racing combined, standing just behind legends like Valentino Rossi and Giacomo Agostini.

Alex Márquez gives his brother a tough time

Alex Márquez qualified just behind Marc in P2. However, he was on Marc’s tail throughout the sprint. In the Grand Prix, Alex took the lead after Marc made a mistake on the third lap, and he held on to the lead for a good part of 15 laps. He was consistently keeping up his pace with Marc’s, even though Marc was breaking records. Overall, Alex had a stellar weekend in Argentina.

Johann Zarco surprises on the Honda

Johann Zarco is certainly not the most technically skilled rider on the grid, nor is he on the best motorcycle by any metric. However, he had a surprising performance in Argentina, to say the least. He took P3 in qualifying just behind the Márquez brothers, even though the Honda lacks the straight-line speed of the Ducatis. He had an amazing sprint, finishing in P4. He had a nothing short of astounding race as well, keeping his position cemented against challengers, and consistently staying on Pecco’s tail, ultimately finishing in P6.

It is hard to imagine that not too long ago, Honda was running at the very back of the field, struggling to make points, and now, they’re putting bikes on the front row and finishing in the top 5.

Morbidelli makes his comeback in the race

The past few years have been tough for Franco Morbidelli. He was the runner-up in the 2020 MotoGP championship standings, but has since struggled, first with the bike, and then with his health. In these four years, Morbidelli has had multiple crashes and injuries, each one degrading his performance more and more. However, in the Argentine GP, even though he started the race from eighth on the grid, he worked his way up to P3, getting a podium finish. This was his first podium since Jerez in 2021, 1414 days ago.

KTM continue on a downward spiral

Not too long ago, it appeared that the only manufacturer who could challenge Ducati’s dominance in the sport was KTM. So naturally, going into the 2025 season, fans had great expectations from them. However, so far, their performance has been underwhelming, to say the least. In the sprint, Acosta was their best rider, finishing P9 after Binder crashed out. In the race, Binder finished P7, with Acosta right behind in P8. However, the Tech3 crew is still lurking at the very bottom of the rankings. Even the factory crew was beaten by Zarco’s Honda during the race, and both Zarco and Mir on the Honda and Bezzecchi on the Aprilia during the sprint.

KTM needs to find their groove again, or they will be in threat of being overtaken by manufacturers like Aprilia and Honda.

Ai Ogura disqualified for inexplicable infringement

⚠️ @AiOgura79 crossed the line in P8 and was then disqualified from the Grand Prix for using a version of software not homologated by the Championship#ArgentinaGP 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/P7UUlHf7vQ
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) March 16, 2025

The rookie Ai Ogura had a mixed weekend in Argentina. Due to a crash during qualifying, he started P15 on the grid. He wasn’t able to do much in the sprint, but turned things around in the race, going all the way up to P8, and finishing ahead of Acosta. However, he was stripped of his result after his Trackhouse Racing Aprilia RS-GP was found to be running a “non-homologated software” on the ECU. It is unclear as to how this happened, as MotoGP has been running spec ECU software for the whole grid since 2016.

Highlights of the Argentine GP

Following are some moments in the weekend that I consider particularly exciting :

Early battle for 3rd in sprint between FB63, PA37 and FQ20
Crash between FA54 and MO88 during the sprint
Battle for 3rd between FB63 and FM21 in the Grand Prix
Four-way battle for 7th in the Grand Prix between FD49, JM36, AO79 and PA37
Late-stage battle between MM93 and AM73 in the Grand Prix

Championship Standing

This is what the championship standings look like after the Argentine GP :

MotoGP

GP of the Americas 2025 : Márquez brothers aim for glory at COTA

The Ant of Cervera seeks to reclaim his title as the King of COTA. But will one of the other challengers prevent him from doing so?

Published

1 day ago

March 28, 2025

Sayujya Apte

GP of the Americas 2025 : Márquez brothers aim for glory at COTA

Going into the Grand Prix of the Americas, we have Marc Márquez on top of the championship standings, having won the trebles (pole, sprint victory and race victory) at both the previous events. However, Alex Márquez is also emerging as a very strong challenger, and he has demonstrated his skills against his brother previously. Bagnaia is still at a massive disadvantage. Circuit of the Americas, however, is one of those tracks that just shakes the order up, as we have seen historically. Join us as we go over everything you need to know before the lights go out in America.

Will the King of COTA reclaim his throne?

Marc Márquez is definitely the strongest rider going into the American GP. COTA is a counterclockwise track, which is Marc’s forte. And, Marc has previously demonstrated his mastery at this track, having clinched the victory a whopping seven times. Combine that with the absolutely perfect run he is having this season, and Márquez presents a strong case. However, COTA is no stranger to surprises and Marc might have to compete against two unexpected but strong riders and maybe others to reclaim his throne.

What about the younger brother?

Alex Márquez does not have as strong a track record as his brother. In fact, he has never managed to crack the top 10 at Texas in the premier class. His only podium here comes from 2018 when he was racing in Moto2. So, history is not on the younger brother’s side going into this weekend. But he has just as much momentum as Marc this season, and if he can maintain that momentum, he might just be the one to break Marc’s perfect streak.

Jorge Martin loses any hope of a championship

The track awaits you, Champ! 🦾#MotoGP #JorgeMartin pic.twitter.com/o6nDD7hDZg
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) March 24, 2025

After missing the first two races of the season due to a testing injury, the defending champion is set to miss the third. And that, combined with the run Márquez is on, crushes any of Martin’s hopes of defending his championship title.

Martin’s Aprilia is a very good motorcycle, and Martin had just found great form near the end of last season. Unfortunately, it appears that due to the serious nature of his injuries, the full capability of Martin on an Aprilia will remain the largest what-if of this season.

Could Álex Rins rise to the occasion?

🥇 @Rins42 gave @lcr_team their 100th podium with a stunning victory at COTA in 2023! ✨#AmericasGP 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/cZekI0ftAk
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) March 26, 2025

Álex Rins might just be the strongest rider on the track after Márquez. He has two victories in COTA, including one on a Honda in 2023, which was at that time the absolute worst bike on the grid. However, as of recently, Rins has been hanging around the middle-to-back of the pack due to some injuries he sustained.

But, Rins is now appearing to recover somewhat from his injuries. Combine that with the strides Yamaha has been making, Rins could be a potential dark horse contender for the sprint race or even the GP.

Maverick Viñales – contender or not?

Maverick Viñales has not been doing very well this season. He is taking time to acclimatize to the KTM and has only managed to secure 4 points so far. However, this does not disqualify him from performing well at Texas. Viñales has won at COTA in 2024, being the only non-Ducati rider to win a race that season. Moreover, he also holds the all-time lap record, the race lap record and the top speed recorded at the track. However, his recent struggles with KTM indicate that his possibility of a surprising performance is slim.

Championship Standings

Following are the championship standings going into the GP of the Americas :

Where to Watch

All MotoGP sessions can be watched in India on Fancode (digital) or on Eurosport (TV broadcast).

MotoGP

MotoGP 2025 : Argentina awaits – can anyone rival Márquez?

Marc Márquez seeks to extend his championship lead as Francesco Bagnaia hopes to catch up, all while the reigning champion is still out of the action.

Published

2 weeks ago

March 13, 2025

Sayujya Apte

MotoGP 2025 : Argentina awaits - can anyone rival Márquez?

The MotoGP paddock returns to Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo in Argentina after a year away. Termas has delivered some of the most memorable battles and impressive performances in recent memory, from the likes of Marc Márquez and Valentino Rossi. Join us as we go over everything you need to know before the lights go out in Argentina.

Can Márquez conquer Termas again?

Marc Márquez is definitely the favourite choice, going into the Argentine GP, coming off a masterclass performance in Thailand. Also, he is the most successful rider in Argentina, having won the Argentine GP three times already – in 2014, 2016 and 2019. He has also been involved in some of the most thrilling battles this track has seen – from Márquez’s clash and subsequent crash with The Doctor in 2015, to his battles with Rossi in 2016 and 2018 being some of the most memorable in recent history.

A clash of titans during the 2015 #ArgentinaGP ⚔️@ValeYellow46 🆚 @marcmarquez93 #MotoGP pic.twitter.com/T6NSRDYfXq
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) March 11, 2025

The question now is, with three wins to his name, will Márquez try to clench a fourth? Or will he be overpowered by a re-motivated Bagnaia?

Bagnaia seeking his way back to the top.

Bagnaia at the MotoGP Thai GP. — Pecco before the Thai GP. Credit : @PeccoBagnaia on X

Although Márquez currently sits atop the championship standings, his teammate and two-time world champion Pecco Bagnaia seeks to change this. Bagnaia has stated, “We weren’t perfect in Thailand, we have to work to have our say this weekend.”

However, if we look at history, we see that Pecco hasn’t what one would call a strong track record in Termas. In fact, his best finishing position in Argentina is P5, and he crashed out of P2 the last time he raced here. The best move for Pecco right now would be to not let his ambition get the best of him, and tail behind Márquez, finishing on the podium and racking up points.

The defending champion Martin still out of the picture

Can't wait to have our Champ back! 🦾#MotoGP pic.twitter.com/oo6kB5ftCZ
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) March 4, 2025

Jorge Martin got into a significant crash during the Day 1 of Sepang testing. He sustained fractures to his right hand and left foot, and has underwent surgeries for it. He missed out on the season opener because of his injuries, and it appears that he has been ruled out for the second race as well. This is sure to make it more difficult for Martin to be a serious championship contender this year, especially with the pace that Márquez has found.

Could Bezzecchi hold any surprises?

Termas holds a special place in Marco Bezzecchi’s heart. It was where he got his first premier class victory in 2023. He has also taken victory in Argentina while in Moto3 in the year 2018. On the other hand, Aprilia has set a precedent of being a good performer in Argentina, and Ogura’s exploits during the season opener also deem it a competitive motorcycle in general. All these facts support the possibility of Marco Bezzecchi being a dark horse in this race. Bezzecchi has the ability to fight for the podium, or even the victory. But will he be able to find his channel his form from two years ago?

Is there a comeback in KTM’s fortunes?

After nothing short of an underwhelming performance in Thailand, KTM will surely be seeking redemption in Argentina, and Binder may be the only one who can do something about it.

Brad Binder took home the Argentine GP Sprint race victory in 2023, pulling off a spectacle starting from 15th on the grid. However, there have been 20 consecutive rounds since where Binder has not scored a podium in either a sprint race or a full-length race. However, standings-wise he is currently KTM’s best rider. Will KTM find redemption? Only time will tell.

Championship Standings

Following are the championship standings going into the Argentine GP :

Schedule and Where to Watch

All MotoGP sessions can be watched in India on Fancode (digital) or on Eurosport (TV broadcast).

Following is the complete schedule of the MotoGP race weekend in IST:

MotoGP

MotoGP 2025 : Marquez brothers dominate the season opener at Buriram

Marquez brothers dominate the opening weekend of MotoGP at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram. This is the first 1-2 for brothers in MotoGP history.

Published

4 weeks ago

March 3, 2025

Sayujya Apte

MotoGP 2025 : Marquez brothers dominate the season opener at Buriram

The 2025 MotoGP season roared to life under the blisteringly hot sun at Buriram’s Chang International Circuit. The first GP of this season delivered a historic and emotional comeback for Marc Marquez who won a season opener since 2014 and is leading the championship for the first time since Valencia 2019. Join us as we review, session by session, the spectacle of the Thai GP.

Marc Márquez returns with a bang

In his debut in red, Marc Márquez comes in with a bang, snatching the triple-pole position in qualifying, victory in the sprint race and victory in the Grand Prix. He has an overall amazing weekend, comfortably cruising to a victory in the sprint race. This was Marc’s s 63rd MotoGP win and his third in Thailand (along with 2018 and 2019). He also equalled MotoGP Legend Dani Pedrosa in third on the list of riders with the most MotoGP podiums with 112.

However, in the Grand Prix, he inexplicably drops down to P2 behind his brother on the sixth lap.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED?! @marcmarquez93 SLOWS DOWN AND LOSES THE LEAD 🚨#ThaiGP 🇹🇭 pic.twitter.com/fUnyJB9l7B
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) March 2, 2025

Allegedly, this was due to the tire pressure rule – Márquez had to keep his tire pressure over 1.82 bar for at least 60% of the race or suffer a 15-second penalty. If Marquez were to keep leading the pack, he would’ve been allegedly in violation of this rule, so he dropped behind his brother to pick up heat form his bike and keep the tire pressure high enough. He did overtake Alex in the final laps of the GP, winning the debut round of a season for the first time in 11 years.

Alex Márquez a surprising second

Alex Márquez had a standout weekend – he qualified in P2, came second in the sprint and came second in the Grand Prix. He even led the GP for almost 18 laps. Throughout the sprint, he masterfully defended against Francesco Bagnaia, retaining his position. Even while he was leading his brother, he gave him a hard time overtaking.

Alex’s record has shown that he takes time to get in form. He won the Moto3 championship in his 3rd year in the series, and the Moto2 championship in his 5th. Currently, this would be Alex’s 6th year in MotoGP. Could he be a title contender this season, going against Pecco, Martin or even his brother Marc?

Ai Ogura’s MotoGP Debut, Aprilia capable enough for Martin?

Of the four rookies this year, Ai Ogura was the best performer in the Thai GP. Riding on an Aprilia for Trackhouse Racing, Ogura qualified P5. His performance in the sprint was consistent, holding on to P4 throughout 14 laps, fending off the likes of Miller and Morbidelli. In the beginning of the GP, Ogura was even pressuring Bagnaia from P4, however, in the later laps he fell behind to P5, being overtaken by Morbidelli.

It wasn't a fluke 💪@AiOgura79 brings an outstanding P5 home at his debut 👏#ThaiGP 🇹🇭 pic.twitter.com/4IWilk3I1U
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) March 2, 2025

Seeing the Aprilia being placed consistently in the top 5 by a rookie must have instilled some extra confidence in Jorge Martin about the capabilities of the bike. Unfortunately, it appears like Martin is going to be out of the picture for a few more races to come, no thanks to the surgery he underwent.

KTM all over the grid, Acosta underperforms

Of all the manufacturers, KTM’s performance in the debut round was the most underwhelming. Only one of their riders, Pedro Acosta, even made it into Q2. KTM’s best performer in the sprint race was Acosta, who finished in P6, with Binder in P8. The Tech3 crew consisting of Viñales and Bastianini finished in a disappointing P14 and P18 respectively.

In the Grand Prix, Acosta botched the start and fell back into P9. He tried to fight for a total of three laps, after which he crashed out and fell straight to the back of the pack. KTM’s best performer in the GP was Binder, who finished in P8.

Safe to say, this was an underwhelming performance for KTM. Last year, KTM looked like the only manufacturer who could challenge the Ducati dominance. Along with that, they had built a star studded roster with the likes of Bastianini and Viñales. However, both of them have not yet been able to adapt to the bike, and are performing below their potential.

The comeback of the Japanese manufacturers?

Unlike last year, Yamaha and Honda are not at the absolute back of the pack! In fact, Honda had two riders finish in the Top 10 for the sprint race, and one in the GP too. Johann Zarco finished P7 for his best result with Honda, which is also Honda’s best result since Marc
Marquez was sixth in Thailand in 2023.

Meanwhile, Yamaha had Quartararo finish P7 in the sprint race, and Miller finish just out of the Top 10 in the Grand Prix. This is a sign of improvement for the Japanese manufacturers. It remains to be seen whether they will carry this momentum throughout this season and the next, and if they will be competing for the top anytime soon.