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.

Read more: Marquez brothers dominate the season opener at Buriram.

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.

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:

Desi Racing Co is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

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.

Highlights of the Thai GP

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

• The battle between PA37 and BB33 for P8 in the sprint race.
• JM43’s crash out from P6 in the sprint race.
• PA37’s crash out in the third lap of the Grand Prix.
• The battle between JM43 and MB72 in the Grand Prix.
• Marc’s overtake on Alex in the Grand Prix.

Championship Standing

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

Read more posts on MotoGP here.

Desi Racing Co is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

MotoGP is heading to Thailand for the sixth time in their history, this also marks the first time the country is hosting a season opener. It is also the first time we have a season opener in South East Asia for the first time since 1999, underscoring the region’s growing significance in the sport. Here are the top storylines for this weekend:

Marc Marquez Makes his Debut in Red

Mar Marquez, who was the face of Honda for over a decade, which helped him bag 6 premier class titles switched to Ducati last year, driving a year-old Desmosedici with Gresini. This year, however, he has made a switch to red, joining the Factory Ducati outfit. Hopes are high for the Spaniard who was constantly challenging the factory riders with his a-year older bike, helping him finish third in the Riders Championship. Stats favour Marquez heading into Buriram, as the Ducati bike has been on the pole, won the sprint race and the main race in the last 2 years. Marquez is also the rider with the most wins (2) in the current grid in Buriram.

A point to prove for Francesco Bagnaia

The 2023 MotoGP Champion, Francesco Bagnaia lost out the title last year by fine margins to Jorge Martin. This year, Bagnaia will be looking to turn things around and take his second premier class title. But it will not be an easy feat, as he has been teamed up against one of the greatest riders in the history of the sport.

Setback for Aprillia and Jorge Martin

Jorge Martin created history in MotoGP last year, becoming the only rider to win the title with a satellite team, albeit they were running the factory bikes. But the start of 2025 is not what he would have hoped for. During Day 1 of the Sepang Pre-Season test, Martin had a huge moment on track which ruled him out of the remainder of the test initially. Medical checks diagnosed him with a right-hand fracture and fractures in his left foot, with surgeries to take place later that week. Now, even though the surgeries went well, Martin has been ruled out of Round 1 at Buriram and also Round 2 in Argentina.

❌ @88jorgemartin is set to miss Argentina according to Aprilia Racing's CEO #MotoGP pic.twitter.com/xIp9XU00xl

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) February 27, 2025

Shark Attack in MotoGP: Acosta’s KTM Debut

When Pedro Acosta made his debut last year, hopes were high for the rookie, and boy did he deliver. The satellite KTM rider had 5 podiums, most of any KTM rider, and he finished just 2 points shy of factory rider Brad Binder in a satellite bike. This year he has been promoted to the factory KTM outfit. Confident and fast through testing, can last year’s rookie revelation cause a stir from the start? Yet to bag that first MotoGP Grand Prix victory, it’s a story not just for Thailand but for 2025.

Fresh faces: Rookies to watch out for

Ai Ogura (Trackhouse Racing MotoGP) was one of the standout performers in testing and along with fellow Aprilia rider Bezzecchi, notched up more laps than anyone else. Keep an eye on the #79 during the first round, he may be a surprise package. Fermin Aldeguer (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) had a sparkling pre-season too and was one to watch; the Buriram Test proved more challenging but when the visor goes down when it matters, Aldeguer is very likely going to be there.

A rockstar in Thailand and one of the stars of the Season Launch, Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU LCR Honda) has perhaps the hardest job of all the rookies: he’s on an improving but not yet perfected Honda and he’s making his debut at home. He’ll be looking to have a solid weekend on track and shine in the spotlight off it.

Yamaha and Honda on an upward trajectory

Yamaha and Honda appear to be on an upward trajectory as the 2025 MotoGP season kicks off. Fabio Quartararo impressed with his consistency at the Sepang Test, while both he and Alex Rins showed promising improvements at Buriram. With Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP now fielding factory-spec bikes, Jack Miller is already settling in, and Miguel Oliveira is expected to unlock more pace. Meanwhile, Honda’s HRC Castrol squad made notable progress, with Joan Mir and Luca Marini showing competitive pace over Sprint simulations. Johann Zarco continues to be a key asset, and with Aleix Espargaro and Takaaki Nakagami bolstering Honda’s development, the Japanese manufacturer seems well on its way back to the front.

Schedule and Where to Watch MotoGP in India

You can watch all the MotoGP sessions live in India on Fancode (digital) and Eurosport (TV Broadcast).

The complete schedule in IST is given below:

Two world championships with season openers on the same weekend. Read our WEC Qatar 1812KM preview here.