Marquez spoils Rossi anniversary party in Argentina

Qatar race winner Lorenzo crashes out

TERMAS DE RIO HONDO, Argentina, April 4, (AFP): World champion Marc Marquez spoilt Valentino Rossi’s anniversary celebrations with success from pole in the Grand Prix of Argentina on Sunday.

Nine-time champion Rossi lined up on his Yamaha in second hoping to mark 20 years as a world championship rider with a second successive victory at the Rio Honda track.

But Marquez spiked the 37-year-old’s quest as the Spaniard opened his 2016 account at the second attempt. Rossi raced in second until the Ducatis of Andrea midway through.

And Rossi said he had struggled after the change of machine.

Dovizioso, second last year, had led early on from Rossi until Marquez nipped past to take control on lap three.

Jorge Lorenzo, aiming to follow up his win in the opening race in Qatar a fortnight ago, crashed out on lap five, his Yamaha sliding from underneath him on bend one.

Marquez emerged from the change of machine in front of Rossi and on target to get his title defence up and running at the second attempt.

The two-time world champion, who overcame a crash-hit session to grab pole, won at the Rio Honda track in 2014.

With rain holding off despite threatening black clouds he held his nerve to win from Rossi with Marquez’ Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa in third. In fourth came Northern Ireland’s Eugene Laverty.

Thankfully Marquez did a better job of staying on his bike than he did on the podium, falling backwards off it in his elation at the trophy ceremony.

Of his 25th grand prix win Marquez, who now leads the championship standings, said: “It was difficult.

Marquez leads the standings with 41 points, with Rossi on 33 and Pedrosa on 27 ahead of the next race, the Grand Prix of the Americas, next Sunday.

Spain’s biker Marc Marquez of Honda celebrates on the podium after winning the MotoGP race of the Argentina Grand Prix at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit, in

Santiago del Estero, Argentina on April 3. (AFP)