Vinales sails to second win

– Maverick Vinales (above) won the Grand Prix of Argentina on Sunday, extending his lead in the world championship after also winning the season-opener in Qatar.

Spanish rider Vinales, on a Yamaha, inherited the lead on the fourth lap when world champion and pole-sitter Marc Marquez crashed out on his Honda, his machine careering spectacularly into the gravel at turn two.

Valentino Rossi, racing in his 350th grand prix, took second place on the second factory Yamaha, 2.915sec behind.

Britain’s Cal Crutchlow, on a Honda, finished third.

It was a third career victory in the elite class for the 22-year-old Vinales who switched to Yamaha from Suzuki for this season.

“Marquez started very strong and when he fell I said to myself I needed to get as many points as possible,” said Vinales who has a perfect 50 points after two races, 14 ahead of Rossi.

Rossi, 38, added a second place to his third position in Qatar but admitted that Vinales, 16 years his junior, is the man to beat.

“Unfortunately, Maverick was a bit faster, but this result is really important for me and the whole team,” said the Italian.

Marquez was not the only three-time world champion to suffer embarrassment.

His compatriot Jorge Lorenzo crashed out on the first lap as the Spaniard’s miserable start to life as a Ducati rider continued.

He started the race on the sixth row on the grid having already struggled home in a disappointing 11th place in Qatar two weeks ago.

Ducati team-mate Andrea Dovizioso, second in Qatar, was also a faller and failed to finish.

Honda saw their second factory rider Dani Pedrosa crash out on the same bend that had claimed Marquez. – AFP