Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) had a stunning start from a stunning pole position at Termas de Rio Hondo in Argentina, and pulled away with an incredible lead until disaster struck. Losing the front end into Turn 2, the reigning Champion then lowsided out into the gravel suffering his first DNF of the year.
With arch rival Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) then taking the win, the rider from Cervera faces a difficult points deficit as he seeks to retain his crown - but next up is the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, where there has only ever been one king: the number 93.
First win, lap record, pole record and undefeated at the track, Marquez is a sure bet for a bounce back when MotoGP get back on track in just under two weeks.
Marc Marquez, DNF: “I’m ok after the crash, I was feeling really good with the bike in the Warm Up, we’d made a big improvement and I was feeling amazing on the bike. I was riding really well – the crash was unexpected, I must have made a mistake and it cost me a lot. These kind of mistakes are disappointing because I was feeling really good and really strong. Now we have to think about Austin.”
MARQUEZ goes down out of the lead! HUGE turn of events!#MV25 is up into first! #ArgentinaGP pic.twitter.com/WSAYhbaHdE
— MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) 9 April 2017