Crash & Incident Strewn Argentina MotoGP
Crash & Incident Strewn Argentina MotoGP
After the tire issues in practice and qualifying, basically the race was shortened to 20 laps and with a mandated pit stop/bike swap.
Rain began in the morning but the MotoGP race was dry, although wet spots on the track remained, especially in turn one.
Ducati led the race from the holeshot with Dovi pulling the launch and his teammate Iannone causing contact in the middle of the lead pack in turn one.
Cal Crutchlow crashed early with Aleix Esparago but Crutchlow was able to re-mount. Jack Miller also crashed out unhurt.
Arguably the most dramatic moment of the "first leg" was Jorge Lorenzo crashing in turn one after five laps.
Before the pit stop the rear-facing camera on Marquez's Honda was dangling off the tail secotion of the Honda, a victim of the turn one carnage. Rossi shadowed Marquez after relinquishing the lead to him.
Scott Redding was looking a lot like a podium position was possible for him until his Pramac Ducati stopped. The engine just stopped. Redding said he tried to re-boot the Ducati's system three times but the bike refused to start. Redding was in sixth place when his bike stopped.
MotoGP rider Maverick Vinales threatened for a podium position before crashing out in turn one three laps from the end.
Sadly Rossi never had the bike to challenge after the pit stops whereas Marquez looked even stronger after the stop. Rossi lost touch almost immediately after leaving the pit lane and was overhauled by both Ducatis and under fire from Dani Pedrosa as the laps ran down to the checkered.
Cal Crutchlow crashed (again) just before the end of the race, putting him out for good. That was two race crashes for Crutchlow in one event.
On the final lap, Dovi' had second place and was protecting the racing line when his teammate Iannone attempted a bold inside pass/bombing run which left both Ducati--seconds before assured of Podium finishes--on the ground. Dovizioso was able to re-mount and limp to the line in thirteenth place.
From some angles it appeared as if Iannone's pass was slightly exacerbated by the large wings on his Ducati--it looked--almost--like the left wing on Iannone's bike was one of the first items to contact Dovi's machine.
After the race Ducati MotoGP team director Paolo Ciabatti said that the incident was both "Devastating and disappointing."
Marquez cruised to a seven second margin of victory over Rossi and Pedrosa with none other than former WSBK winner Eugene Laverty in fourth place on the beleaguered order.
Rossi and Marquez avoided one another in victory circle, at one point walking right by one another with no indication of seeing the other.
Marquez was elated with his first win of 2016 and made a jump to the top of the podium. Alas, the surface was wet and he fell ... nearly in Rossi's lap. Rossi found this hysterical but there was no offer to help Marquez up.