Marc Márquez Sets New Lap Record in Termas de Río Hondo

Marc Márquez dominates the Argentine Grand Prix practice, setting a new lap record at Termas de Río Hondo. Ducati riders shine, while Bagnaia faces a setback.

The Ducati Lenovo Team had a stellar start to the Argentine Grand Prix, with Marc Márquez dominating both practice sessions and setting a new outright lap record at the Autódromo Internacional de Termas de Río Hondo. His impressive 1’37.295 lap-time not only secured the top spot but also reinforced his adaptability to the Ducati machine. Meanwhile, his teammate and reigning world champion, Francesco Bagnaia, finished the session in tenth place after an unfortunate crash in the closing minutes.

Márquez Dominates, Bagnaia Faces a Challenge

Márquez displayed exceptional speed throughout the day, consistently staying at the top of the timesheets. His rapid adaptation to the Ducati was evident as he fine-tuned the bike’s electronics and found his rhythm on a track where he last raced years ago.

“I immediately felt comfortable. We obviously put more work on the bike compared to Thailand, as it was a long time since I last rode at this track, and it was also my first time here on a Ducati. We made some changes to the electronics and from the second run I felt really good,” said Márquez. He acknowledged that competition remains tight but is confident about further improvements as grip levels increase.

Bagnaia, on the other hand, struggled in the morning session, particularly under braking and during corner entries. Despite making adjustments in the afternoon that helped him regain confidence, his progress was cut short by a crash at Turn 2 with four minutes remaining in the session. Nevertheless, he remains optimistic.

“I struggled in the morning under braking, on corner entry, and after releasing the brakes. We made a few adjustments for the afternoon session, and I felt better: I recovered the same feeling I had last year, so I’m happy. Unfortunately, I crashed at the beginning of my second time attack, and it’s a pity because I wanted to ride strong and felt I could have been three and a half tenths quicker. We’re still in the top ten, and that’s good, all things considered,” Bagnaia reflected.

Close Competition Among Ducati Riders

The dominance of Ducati was further reinforced by Fabio Di Gianantonio of the VR46 Racing Team and Alex Márquez of Gresini Racing Team, who secured second and third places, respectively. This performance underlines Ducati’s strength across different teams and the competitiveness of its machinery.

Looking Ahead to Race Day

The Ducati Lenovo Team will return to the track tomorrow morning for Free Practice 2 at 10:10 AM local time (GMT -3), followed by Q2 at 11:15 AM. The second sprint race of the season, spanning 12 laps, will begin at 3:00 PM. Márquez aims to secure a front-row start, while Bagnaia will be looking to recover and challenge for a strong result.

With Ducati riders occupying the top spots, the Argentine Grand Prix promises to be an exciting battle. Will Márquez convert his practice dominance into race success, or will his rivals mount a challenge? All eyes will be on Termas de Río Hondo as the action unfolds.