MotoGP

N/A

Tag Type
Division
Slug
moto-gp
Short Name
MotoGP
Abbreviation
GP
Visible in Content Tool
On
Visible in Programming Tool
On
Root
Motorsports
Featured
Off
Auto create Channel for this Tag
On
Parents
Motorsports
Primary Parent
Motorsports
Primary Color
#000000
Secondary Color
#ffffff

MotoGP Grand Prix of Italy 2019: Race Schedule, Live Stream and Top Riders

May 31, 2019
LE MANS, FRANCE - MAY 19: Marc Marquez of Spain and Repsol Honda Team cuts the finish lane and celebrates the victory at the end of the MotoGP race during the MotoGp of France - Race on May 19, 2019 in Le Mans, France. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images)
LE MANS, FRANCE - MAY 19: Marc Marquez of Spain and Repsol Honda Team cuts the finish lane and celebrates the victory at the end of the MotoGP race during the MotoGp of France - Race on May 19, 2019 in Le Mans, France. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images)

Marc Marquez will attempt to continue his dominance on Sunday in the MotoGP Grand Prix of Italy, as he seeks his fourth win of the season in the year's sixth race.

The 26-year-old, five-time MotoGP world champion has won the last two races, in Spain and France, and sports an eight-point lead over Andrea Dovizioso in the overall standings.

Marquez hasn't fared well at the Mugello Circuit in recent years, though, handing his rivals some hope in what has been another excellent campaign from the Spaniard.

Here is a look at the race schedule:

          

Saturday, June 1

8:55 a.m. BST/3:55 ET: FP3

1:10 p.m. BST/8:10 a.m. ET: Q1

1:35 p.m. BST/8:35 a.m. ET: Q2

       

Sunday, June 2

8:40 a.m. BST/3:40 a.m. BST: WUP

1 p.m. BST/8 a.m. ET: Race

Live-stream links: BT Sport App (UK), beIN Sports Connect (U.S.)

             

Top Riders

Marc Marquez, Honda

With three wins and a second-placed finish this season, Marquez has been in sensational form, and his retirement at the Grand Prix of the Americas has been the only blip on his 2019 resume.

The Honda rider has always stood out for his consistency, and he has taken it to another level this year. He's been excellent in qualifying, putting himself on pole position three times, and he's almost impossible to catch once he gets to race at the front.

But Mugello has not been kind to Marquez in recent years, with frequent crashes and other issues keeping him from winning there since 2014.

He has high hopes for this year's race, though:

Honda's power has been tremendous in 2019, and coupled with Marquez's solid form, this could be the year when he finally returns to the top spot in Italy.

If he does, it will send a strong signal to the rest of the field that there is no stopping the world champion.

          

Jorge Lorenzo, Honda

Lorenzo has won three of the last four races at Mugello―Doviozoso, who will start his 300th race on Sunday, won in 2017―and an impressive seven Italian Grand Prix races in all categories, chasing only Valentino Rossi's nine.

The 32-year-old built a fierce rivalry with compatriot Marquez in recent years, but he's been something of an afterthought this season, as his move to Honda has not yielded significant results yet. After five races, he hasn't finished in the top 10 once.

Honda are still backing Lorenzo, despite the rough start:

If there's one track where he may be able to turn things around, it's Mugello, and a strong result in Italy could jump-start Lorenzo's rise up the standings, with the Catalan and Dutch Grand Prix races next on the schedule.

       

Valentino Rossi, Yamaha

Rossi hasn't won at Mugello since 2008, when he took his seventh straight victory in the MotoGP category and ninth overall.

The 40-year-old is enjoying another steady season, finishing inside the top six in every race so far and sitting in fourth place in the standings, 23 points behind Marquez.

SCARPERIA, ITALY - MAY 30: Valentino Rossi of Italy and Yamaha Factory Racing (L) and Marc Marquez of Spain and Repsol Honda Team look on during the press conference pre-event during the MotoGp of Italy - Previews at Mugello Circuit on May 30, 2019 in S
SCARPERIA, ITALY - MAY 30: Valentino Rossi of Italy and Yamaha Factory Racing (L) and Marc Marquez of Spain and Repsol Honda Team look on during the press conference pre-event during the MotoGp of Italy - Previews at Mugello Circuit on May 30, 2019 in S

Rossi flashed his pace last year, when he grabbed pole position in qualifying, but he hasn't won a MotoGP race since 2017―his last coming at Asse―and his Yamaha is likely to have trouble keeping up with the Honda engines on the fast Mugello track.

MotoGP Grand Prix of France 2019 Results: Marc Marquez Earns 3rd Win of Season

May 19, 2019
MotoGP rider Marc Marquez of Spain takes a curve followed by Jack Miller of Australia, left, during the French Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Le Mans racetrack, in Le Mans, France, Sunday, May 19, 2019. (AP Photo/David Vincent)
MotoGP rider Marc Marquez of Spain takes a curve followed by Jack Miller of Australia, left, during the French Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Le Mans racetrack, in Le Mans, France, Sunday, May 19, 2019. (AP Photo/David Vincent)

Marc Marquez won his third race of the season on Sunday at the MotoGP Grand Prix of France at Le Mans.

The Spaniard topped the podium ahead of Andrea Dovizioso and Danilo Petrucci.

The victory extended his lead in the riders' standings to eight points, while Dovizioso overtook Alex Rins into second after the Suzuki rider finished 10th.

Here's the classification from the race:

There was drama before the race even began, when Karel Abraham and Joan Mir went down in the warm-up lap:

Abraham's day soon got worse, as he was hit with a black flag for leaving the pit lane after Marquez completed his first lap.

Marquez started the race on pole, but he found himself usurped by Jack Miller on Lap 5 when the Australian dove inside him at Turn 3:

As the pair traded the lead back and forth, their duel allowed Dovizioso and Valentino Rossi to catch up and briefly make it a four-way battle.

Marquez showed his class to pull away from his rivals, though, setting what was then the fastest lap of the race in the process.

Further back, Francesco Bagnaia and Maverick Vinales had their races cut short when they crashed out:

As Marquez powered on unchallenged to victory, Dovizioso capitalised when Miller ran wide at T7.

The Italian then managed to hold off compatriot and Ducati team-mate Petrucci in a hard-fought battle for second.

MotoGP Grand Prix of France 2019: Race Schedule, Live Stream and Top Riders

May 17, 2019
MotoGP rider Marc Marquez of Spain, left, leads the race during the Spanish Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Angel Nieto racetrack in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, Sunday, May 5, 2019. (AP Photo/Miguel Morenatti)
MotoGP rider Marc Marquez of Spain, left, leads the race during the Spanish Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Angel Nieto racetrack in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, Sunday, May 5, 2019. (AP Photo/Miguel Morenatti)

The fifth race of the MotoGP season sees the action move to France on Sunday, with champion Marc Marquez leading the world standings by one point.

Spanish compatriot Alex Rins is in superb form for Suzuki after winning his first MotoGP race at the Grand Prix of Americas in April, and he will expect to challenge at the Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans.

Valentino Rossi and Andrea Dovizioso have also started the season in good shape, with both chasing maximum points at the famous French track.

                 

Race Schedule

Friday, May 17

FP1: 8:55 a.m BST/3:55 a.m. ET

FP2: 1:10 p.m BST/8:10 a.m. ET

                            

Saturday, May 18

FP3: 8:55 a.m BST/3:55 a.m. ET

FP4: 12:30 p.m. BST/7:30 a.m. ET

O1: 1:10 p.m BST/8:10 a.m. ET

O2: 1:35 p.m. BST/8:35 a.m. ET

                           

Sunday, May 19

WUP: 8:40 a.m BST/3:40 a.m. ET

Race: 1 p.m. BST/8 a.m. ET

Live-stream links: BT Sport App, beIN Sports Connect

                    

Preview and Top Riders

It wasn't so long ago that Marquez was the new kid on the block, but at the age of 26, the racing phenomenon has a fresh challenger.

Rins made his MotoGP debut in 2017 and is beginning to display his raw talent at the highest level.

LE MANS, FRANCE - MAY 16: (L-R) Alex Rins of Spain and Team Suzuki ECSTAR, Marc Marquez of Spain and Repsol Honda Team and Andrea Dovizioso of Italy and Ducati Team pose during the press conference pre-event during the MotoGp of France - Previews on May
LE MANS, FRANCE - MAY 16: (L-R) Alex Rins of Spain and Team Suzuki ECSTAR, Marc Marquez of Spain and Repsol Honda Team and Andrea Dovizioso of Italy and Ducati Team pose during the press conference pre-event during the MotoGp of France - Previews on May

Achieving five podiums last term indicated what the 23-year-old could achieve this season if Suzuki provided him with the ammunition, and it appears the Spaniard is now a genuine contender.

According to Oriol Puigdemont and Valentin Khorounzhiy of Autosport, Marquez said there is little pressure on Rins to deliver early victories and this has helped his progress:

"His [Rins'] strongest point is that he doesn't have pressure at the moment. For sure it will arrive. It's true. At the moment if he finishes second, he's very happy; he finishes first, it's amazing; he finishes third, also he's happy. Now he's another opponent for the championship, he's ready to fight for the championship and the bike is too. It's important for the championship to have more manufacturers fighting for the title."

Suzuki Ecstar's Spanish rider Alex Rins (L) celebrates his second position beside race winner Repsol Honda Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez after the MotoGP race of the Spanish Grand Prix at the Jerez - Angel Nieto circuit in Jerez de la Frontera on May
Suzuki Ecstar's Spanish rider Alex Rins (L) celebrates his second position beside race winner Repsol Honda Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez after the MotoGP race of the Spanish Grand Prix at the Jerez - Angel Nieto circuit in Jerez de la Frontera on May

Marquez has won five world championships since 2013, and he desperately needs the pinch of a younger challenger nipping at his heels.

Rins appears happy with his bike, and the combination of man and machine has brought positivity to his team.

Per MotoGP's official Twitter account, the rider feels confident ahead of the forthcoming schedule:

The title race has quickly developed into a four-way tussle, with Italian duo Rossi and Dovizioso also vying for the top spots.

Dovizioso won the first race of the season in Qatar but has finished fourth in the last two events.

Rossi continues to further his legend, and the seven-time world champion appears as motivated as ever.

The 40-year-old made two of the first four podiums of the season, but his Yamaha might struggle to compete with Honda, Suzuki and Ducati as the season unfolds. 

MotoGP Grand Prix of Spain 2019 Results: Marc Marquez Cruises to Another Win

May 5, 2019
Repsol Honda Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez leads the race after the start of the MotoGP race of the Spanish Grand Prix at the Jerez - Angel Nieto circuit in Jerez de la Frontera on May 5, 2019. (Photo by JORGE GUERRERO / AFP) (Photo credit should read JORGE GUERRERO/AFP/Getty Images)
Repsol Honda Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez leads the race after the start of the MotoGP race of the Spanish Grand Prix at the Jerez - Angel Nieto circuit in Jerez de la Frontera on May 5, 2019. (Photo by JORGE GUERRERO / AFP) (Photo credit should read JORGE GUERRERO/AFP/Getty Images)

Defending MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez shot into the lead in Turn 1 of the Grand Prix of Spain on Sunday and never looked back, cruising to his second win of the year.

The 26-year-old held off Alex Rins, who finished in second place, while Maverick Vinales took the final podium spot ahead of Andrea Dovizioso. Valentino Rossi rode a late surge to sixth place.

The win saw Marquez claim top spot in the standings, one point ahead of Rins and three of Dovizioso. Rossi is fourth, nine points behind the leader.

Here is a look at the results from Jerez:

For the full MotoGP standings, visit the official website. 

   

Marquez had a superb start and dove into Turn 1 in the lead, with Vinales and Dovizioso both outside the top three.

The defending world champion quickly found some excellent pace:

Franco Morbidelli was the only one who could follow the pace of the Spaniard early, while in the background, championship leader Dovizioso ran wide after a pass on Vinales, losing even more time. Ducati had the raw pace but struggled in the corners, and with Rins also getting involved in the battle, the gap between the top three and the rest of the pack grew steadily.

The Petronas Yamaha duo of Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo kept the pressure on leader Marquez in the early stages:

But the consistent 26-year-old soon started to pull out a lead, and Vinales made it a trio of Yamahas behind the leader. Further back, Rossi struggled to pass Jack Miller, greatly hurting his championship aspirations.

Quartararo got the pass for second place and seemed ready to hunt down the leader, only for him to drop out of the race shortly after. MotoGP writer Simon Patterson felt bad for the Frenchman:

That left the battle for second place right open, however, with Morbidelli starting to slow down. It compounded what was an awful day for his team:

Rossi finally got the pass on Miller with seven laps to go, but he still had ground to make up on the chasing pack. He swiftly overtook Morbidelli and Cal Crutchlow to move into sixth place, salvaging a few extra points in the championship race.

Miller crashed out of a top-10 spot after a battle with Aleix Espargaro, but there was relatively little movement in the rest of the top 10. Dovizioso continued to hunt Vinales for the final podium spot heading into the final round, but he ran out of time to make a move stick.

The next race will be on May 19 at the Bugatti Circuit in France.

MotoGP Grand Prix of Spain 2019: Race Schedule, Live Stream and Top Riders

May 3, 2019
AUSTIN, TX - APRIL 14: Marc Marquez of Spain rounds the bend during the Finals at MotoGP Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix of The Americas at Circuit of The Americas on April 14, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Christian Pondella/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - APRIL 14: Marc Marquez of Spain rounds the bend during the Finals at MotoGP Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix of The Americas at Circuit of The Americas on April 14, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Christian Pondella/Getty Images)

The young 2019 MotoGP season will continue on Sunday in Jerez, Spain, as defending world champion Marc Marquez looks to get back on track in the Spanish Grand Prix after his crash in America.

Marquez's crash in Austin saw him drop to fourth place in the overall standings, but he sits just nine points behind current leader Andrea Dovizioso. Valentino Rossi and Alex Rins are second and third, respectively.

Here is a look at the race schedule for the Spain Grand Prix, as well as live stream info.

           

Race Schedule

Friday, May 3

8:55 a.m GMT/3:55 a.m. ET.: FP1

1:10 p.m GMT/8:10 a.m. ET.: FP2

        

Saturday, May 4

8:55 a.m GMT/3:55 a.m. ET: FP3

12:30 p.m. GMT/7:30 a.m. ET: FP4

1:10 p.m GMT/8:10 a.m. ET.: Q1

1:35 p.m. GMT/8:35 a.m. ET: Q2

         

Sunday, May 5

8:40 a.m GMT/3:40 a.m. ET.: WUP

1 p.m. GMT/8 a.m. ET: Race

Live-Stream Links: BT Sport App, beIN Sports CONNECT

   

Top Riders

Marc Marquez, Honda

Five-time MotoGP world champion Marquez started the season on fire with a second-placed finish in Qatar and a win in Argentina, putting the rest of the field on notice. He was riding well in Austin and seemed primed to add to his lead in the overall standings, until he crashed out and opened the door for Rins to get his first win of the season.

According to Marquez, a mechanical issue played a part in the crash, and the team has fixed the problem:

The 26-year-old won last year's race in Jerez, a track that has historically not been one of his favourites, with just two wins so far. He pushed his bike hard last year, nearly sliding out of a turn at one point:

There's no denying his form―he has scored back-to-back pole positions and fastest laps in the past two races―or his talent, with his five world titles. If Marquez can avoid mistakes, he should be able to bounce back from his crash in Austin with a win on home soil.

   

Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati

Dovizioso leads the current standings by three points, courtesy of a win in Qatar, a third-place finish in Argentina and a fourth-place finish in the United States. The 33-year-old Italian is trending in the wrong direction, and he needs a strong result in Jerez to keep his momentum.

AUSTIN, TX - APRIL 13: Adreea Dovizioso of Italy in the pits during the Qualifier at MotoGP Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix of The Americas at Circuit of The Americas on April 13, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Christian Pondella/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - APRIL 13: Adreea Dovizioso of Italy in the pits during the Qualifier at MotoGP Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix of The Americas at Circuit of The Americas on April 13, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Christian Pondella/Getty Images)

Unfortunately, his history at the track is far from positive. Dovizioso has never won in Jerez in MotoGP or the junior levels below the top class. In last year's race, he was involved in a spectacular crash with Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedros, per Motorsport's David Gruz.

   

Valentino Rossi, Yamaha

The only rider in the top four of the standings without a win so far, Rossi has finished in second place in the last two races. Consistency has been the 40-year-old's biggest weapon so far, and he's done a fine job avoiding costly errors on his much improved Yamaha.

He has enjoyed some fantastic moments in Jerez, including this epic battle with Sete Gibernau in 2005:

The veteran's last win at the track came in 2016, and that was his first since 2009. Rossi has won just a single MotoGP race since the start of the 2017 season.

MotoGP Grand Prix of Americas 2019 Results: Alex Rins Secures 1st Career Win

Apr 14, 2019
AUSTIN, TEXAS - APRIL 14: Alex Rins of Spain and Team Suzuki Ecstar comes into the pits after warm ups before the MotoGP at Circuit of The Americas on April 14, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS - APRIL 14: Alex Rins of Spain and Team Suzuki Ecstar comes into the pits after warm ups before the MotoGP at Circuit of The Americas on April 14, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)

Alex Rins picked up the first victory of his MotoGP career on Sunday after taking the chequered flag ahead of Valentino Rossi at the 2019 Grand Prix of Americas:

The Suzuki rider snatched the lead off the Italian with four laps to go and managed to hold on for victory in Austin, Texas.

Rossi had looked set for his first win since June 2017 after world champion Marc Marquez crashed out with 12 laps remaining while leading by three seconds.

However, Rossi was forced to settle for second place with Jack Miller coming home in third for Ducati.

MotoGP reporter Simon Patterson shared the final result:

Pole-sitter Marquez got off to a clean start, managing to hold off the challenge of both Rossi and Cal Crutchlow.

Andrea Dovizioso was also impressive off the line, moving up from 13th on the grid to sixth and ahead of team-mate Maverick Vinales.

Vinales was then hit with a further blow after being handed a ride-through penalty for a jump-start:

Marquez started to extend his lead at the front, with Rossi coming under pressure from Crutchlow in the opening laps.

However, the Repsol Honda man crashed out on Turn 11, sliding off under braking and allowing Miller to move into third behind the leading duo.

Marquez then produced a big shock as he crashed out with 12 laps to go. The world champion, who had a perfect record in this race, was leading by three seconds when he slid out and could not restart his Honda:

Honda's problems then got even worse as team-mate Jorge Lorenzo was forced to retire with a mechanical problem.

Meanwhile, Rins moved into second place and in pursuit of Rossi, while Dovizioso's race was getting even better as he passed Franco Morbidelli for fourth place.

Rins made his key move with four laps to go, diving down the inside of Rossi to take the lead.

Rossi tried to hit straight back but could not make it stick and then could not get close enough on the final lap for a late challenge.

Rins could not hide his delight after finally earning his maiden MotoGP victory:

It was a good day for both Suzuki and Yamaha, while Dovizioso's fourth-place finish means he takes top spot off Marquez in the world championship.

MotoGP Grand Prix of Americas 2019: Race Schedule, Live Stream and Top Riders

Apr 12, 2019
Spain's biker Marc Marquez (L) rides his Honda during the second lap in the MotoGP race of the Argentina Grand Prix at Termas de Rio Hondo circuit, in Santiago del Estero, Argentina on March 31, 2019. - Marquez won the race. (Photo by JUAN MABROMATA / AFP) (Photo credit should read JUAN MABROMATA/AFP/Getty Images)
Spain's biker Marc Marquez (L) rides his Honda during the second lap in the MotoGP race of the Argentina Grand Prix at Termas de Rio Hondo circuit, in Santiago del Estero, Argentina on March 31, 2019. - Marquez won the race. (Photo by JUAN MABROMATA / AFP) (Photo credit should read JUAN MABROMATA/AFP/Getty Images)

The 2019 MotoGP season continues this weekend with the Grand Prix of The Americas in Austin, Texas.

The race is the third of the year, following the Grands Prix in Qatar and Argentina, so the championship remains wide open at this stage.

Defending champion Marc Marquez, who has won five of the last six riders' championships, is already atop the standings after his win last time out, though, and the field will be eager to prevent him from extending his early lead.

                        

Race Schedule

Friday, April 12

  • Free Practice 1: 3:55 p.m. to 4:40 p.m. BST/10:55 a.m. to 11:25 a.m. ET
  • Free Practice 2: 8:10 p.m. to 8:55 p.m. BST/3:10 p.m. to 3:55 p.m. ET

                                  

Saturday, April 13

  • Free Practice 3: 3:55 p.m. to 4:40 p.m. BST/10:55 a.m. to 11:25 a.m. ET
  • Free Practice 4: 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. BST/2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET
  • Q1: 8:10 p.m. to 8:25 p.m. BST/3:10 p.m. to 3:25 p.m. ET
  • Q2: 8:35 p.m. to 8:50 p.m. BST/3:35 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. ET

                              

Sunday, April 14

  • Warm-Up: 15:40 p.m. to 4 p.m. BST/10:40 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET
  • Race: 8 p.m. BST/3 p.m. ET

                                  

Live-Stream Links: BT Sport App, beIN Sports CONNECT

                               

Marc Marquez, Honda

We're only two races into the new season, and only one rider is within 14 points of Marquez.

Having finished second in the opening Grand Prix of the campaign, he went one better last time out.

The 26-year-old topped the standings in impressive style in Argentina:

His rivals could not even get close to him in what was virtually a flawless run:

He'll take some stopping in Texas, too. Marquez is unbeaten in the Grand Prix of The Americas, having won it every year since it was first held in 2013.

Another victory on Sunday would stretch his lead at the top of the standings to at least nine points.

While that's hardly unassailable at this stage given there will still be 16 more races to come, it will be an ominous sign for those hoping to see a competitive battle for the championship this year.

                                 

Valentino Rossi, Yamaha

After finishing fifth in Qatar, Rossi earned his first podium of the season in Argentina when he took second place.

He did so in dramatic fashion, taking it off compatriot Andrea Dovizioso in the final lap:

In finishing second, the 40-year-old secured a place on the podium for the 24th year running.

The veteran is eagerly anticipating the "tricky" circuit in Texas:

Rossi has never won the Grand Prix of The Americas, but he has finished twice on the podium in 2015 and 2017.

While it's difficult to imagine anyone other than Marquez taking the chequered flag, another podium finish for Rossi would help him remain in touching distance of the Spaniard.

MotoGP Grand Prix of Argentina 2019 Results: Marc Marquez Dominates Field in Win

Mar 31, 2019
Spain's biker Marc Marquez rides his Honda during the warm-up of the MotoGP of the Argentina Grand Prix at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, on March 31, 2019. (Photo by Juan MABROMATA / AFP) (Photo credit should read JUAN MABROMATA/AFP/Getty Images)
Spain's biker Marc Marquez rides his Honda during the warm-up of the MotoGP of the Argentina Grand Prix at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, on March 31, 2019. (Photo by Juan MABROMATA / AFP) (Photo credit should read JUAN MABROMATA/AFP/Getty Images)

Marc Marquez rode to a flag-to-flag victory in the 2019 MotoGP Argentina Grand Prix on Sunday. The Honda rider finished ahead of Yamaha Valentino Rossi by a huge margin at the Autodromo de Termas de Rio Hondo.

Defending champion Marquez has moved ahead of Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso, who settled for third, in the standings after two races.

Marquez made the most of the pole to blitz the first lap and open a worrying gap over the chasing pack. Those further back were already embroiled in an intense scrap to stay in touch:

Rossi was staking his claim after quickly surpassing Yamaha teammate Maverick Vinales. The latter's strategy was coming in for criticism:

Rossi kept the pressure on, but he also had Qatar Grand Prix winner Dovizioso for company. Further back, 2018 race winner Cal Crutchlow was hit with an early ride-through penalty for an apparent jump start.

The infraction added up to a loss of 25 seconds for the Honda man as he was quickly targeted by those determined to at least keep Marquez in their sights.

Franco Morbidelli, a rider revitalised on the Yamaha bike, was among those making his presence felt early on:

The chasers needed to pile the pressure on Marquez, who had an advantage of almost five seconds after six laps. It was up to 6.5 seconds with 16 laps to go, as the real race was taking place behind an imperious Marquez, who was adding to his advantage with every lap.

Scrapping for second brought the best out of both Rossi and Dovizioso, with both riders ready to punish even the slightest error:

Meanwhile, the cost of Crutchlow's penalty was coming into sharper focus:

Dovizioso and Rossi continued to fight for second, with the latter looking determined to snap a run of nine races without a place on the podium. 

Fourth place was prompting another interesting scrap with Suzuki's Alex Rins making his move:

Unfortunately, a final-lap crash between Vinales and Morbidelli sent both out of the race.

There was still time for Rossi to make a typically late surge to pip Dovizioso to second. The "Doctor" timed his strong move superbly to deny Dovizioso at least a share of top spot in the championship standings.

Instead, Marquez already has the summit position to himself, an ominous sign for the rest. 

MotoGP Grand Prix of Argentina 2019: Race Schedule, Live Stream and Top Riders

Mar 29, 2019
Spain's Marc Marquez (L) of Honda rides ahead of Italy's Valentino Rossi of Yamaha during the MotoGP race of the Argentina Grand Prix at Termas de Rio Hondo circuit, in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, on April 3, 2016. AFP PHOTO / JUAN MABROMATA / AFP / JUAN MABROMATA (Photo credit should read JUAN MABROMATA/AFP/Getty Images)
Spain's Marc Marquez (L) of Honda rides ahead of Italy's Valentino Rossi of Yamaha during the MotoGP race of the Argentina Grand Prix at Termas de Rio Hondo circuit, in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, on April 3, 2016. AFP PHOTO / JUAN MABROMATA / AFP / JUAN MABROMATA (Photo credit should read JUAN MABROMATA/AFP/Getty Images)

Andrea Dovizioso will look to build on his controversial win at the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix when he rides in the 2019 Moto GP Grand Prix of Argentina on Sunday.

The Ducati star will be expected to produce another strong showing on a bike that has prompted complaints from rival manufacturers, but he could still find himself overshadowed by champion Marc Marquez and veteran rival Valentino Rossi.

Last year's race was dominated by the tussle between the pair as Marquez and Rossi clashed on track at the Autodoromo de Termas de Rio Hondo. A late surge from the Spaniard saw the 40-year-old dislodged from his bike, an incident the Italian hasn't forgotten.

           

Full Race Schedule

Friday

Free Practice 1

Time: 1:50 p.m. to 2:35 p.m. GMT/9:50 a.m. to 10:35 a.m. ET

Free Practice 2

Time: 6:05 p.m. to 6:50 p.m. GMT/2:05 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. ET

            

Saturday

Free Practice 3

Time: 1:50 p.m. to 2:35 p.m. GMT/9:50 a.m. to 10:35 a.m. ET

Free Practice 4

Time: 5:25 p.m. to 5:55 p.m. GMT/1:25 p.m. to 1:55 p.m. ET

Qualifying 1

Time: 6:05 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. GMT/2:05 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. ET

Qualifying 2

Time: 6:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. GMT/2:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. ET

             

Race 

Date: Sunday, March 31

Warm-Ups: 2:40 p.m. to 3 p.m. BST/9:40 a.m. to 10 a.m. ET

Start Time: 7 p.m. BST/2 p.m. ET

TV Info: BT Sport 2. beIN Sports USA

Live Stream: BT Sport App, beIN Sports CONNECT

               

Dovizioso needed the win in Qatar confirmed by the MotoGP Court of Appeal after complaints were made about Ducati using a device to cool the tyres.

DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: Andrea Dovizioso of Italy and Ducati Team celebrates with flag the victory at the end of the MotoGP race during the MotoGP of Qatar - Race at Losail Circuit on March 10, 2019 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Imag
DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: Andrea Dovizioso of Italy and Ducati Team celebrates with flag the victory at the end of the MotoGP race during the MotoGP of Qatar - Race at Losail Circuit on March 10, 2019 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Imag

The disputed part has been ruled legal, according to Crash.Net's Peter McLaren, who noted how teams including Honda and Suzuki felt the cooling device helped "provide an 'illegal' aerodynamic effect (in this case downforce)."

A favourable ruling means Dovizioso remains the early the leader in the standings by virtue of finishing a mere "0.023s" ahead of Marquez on March 10.

The Spaniard will need to avoid being distracted by the inevitable references to the events of 2018. Marquez apologised for knocking Rossi off his bike when overtaking him, an attempt at contrition the Yamaha rider rejected.

VALENCIA, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 15: Valentino Rossi of Italy and Movistar Yamaha MotoGP smiles (L) and Marc Marquez of Spain and Repsol Honda Team looks on during the press conference pre-event during the MotoGP Of Valencia - Previews at Ricardo Tormo Circui
VALENCIA, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 15: Valentino Rossi of Italy and Movistar Yamaha MotoGP smiles (L) and Marc Marquez of Spain and Repsol Honda Team looks on during the press conference pre-event during the MotoGP Of Valencia - Previews at Ricardo Tormo Circui

Even so, it's telling how the champion has been striking a less combative tone ahead of this year's race. He praised Rossi for maintaining his will to win into a fourth decade, per MCN Sport (h/t Alex Wood of the Daily Star):

"It's amazing what he's doing. Because you can get to 40 years old and still have the motivation to ride a bike, but to get to 40 with the motivation and the ability to still be one of the favourites is something else. It's amazing and I'd love to get to the same age and still have the motivation he does."

Frankly, it would be a surprise if those words thaw the ice sufficiently between the competitive pair ahead of the qualifying sessions and the race proper.

Marquez has owned the title in each of the last five years, but Rossi still has the pedigree of having won the top prize seven times. The veteran would love nothing more than to get one over on the younger man chasing his achievements.

Repsol Honda's Spanish rider Marc Marquez rides during the Qatar MotoGP grand prix at the Losail track in Qatar's capital Doha on March 10, 2019. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP) (Photo credit should read KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty Images)
Repsol Honda's Spanish rider Marc Marquez rides during the Qatar MotoGP grand prix at the Losail track in Qatar's capital Doha on March 10, 2019. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP) (Photo credit should read KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty Images)

The residue of animosity between the best of the sport's past and the dominant force of its present will make for another intense race in Argentina.

Add in the intrigue created by the accusations of Ducati's souped-up capabilities, and this promises to be even more memorable than last year's Grand Prix.

MotoGP Grand Prix of Qatar 2019 Results: Andrea Dovizioso Wins Season Opener

Mar 10, 2019
Mission Winnow Ducati's Italian rider Andrea Dovizioso (R) rides during the Qatar MotoGP grand prix at the Losail track in Qatar's capital Doha on March 10, 2019. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP) (Photo credit should read KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty Images)
Mission Winnow Ducati's Italian rider Andrea Dovizioso (R) rides during the Qatar MotoGP grand prix at the Losail track in Qatar's capital Doha on March 10, 2019. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP) (Photo credit should read KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty Images)

Andrea Dovizioso won the first MotoGP race of the season on Sunday, as he took the chequered flag ahead of defending world champion Marc Marquez and Cal Crutchlow on Sunday at the Qatar Grand Prix.

The Ducati rider led for the majority of the 22 laps in an exciting race under the floodlights at the Losail International Circuit.

A tightly contested season opener saw five riders in contention for the win heading into the final lap, with Dovizioso and Marquez tussling for victory and the Italian just coming out on top.

Here's a look at the full classification:

There was plenty of excitement at the start of the race. Dovizioso led Jack Miller into the first turn, while pole-sitter Maverick Vinales was forced wide by Marquez and slipped down to sixth:

Meanwhile, Fabio Quartararo on his MotoGP debut suffered a nightmare start. The 19-year-old qualified in fifth but had to start from the pit lane after stalling on the line.

Miller also suffered an early problem. He had to throw away a piece of his seat which dropped him from second down to 11th:

While Dovizioso continued to lead the race, it was Quartararo who caught the eye. The youngster may have been in last place after starting from the pit lane but was the fastest man on the track early on:

At the front, Alex Rins and Dovizioso traded places, while Danilo Petrucci went past Marquez into third place, with rookie Joan Mir impressing in fourth approaching the halfway point.

The first casualty of the race was Francesco Bagnaia, who dropped out with what looked like a mechanical problem:

Meanwhile, Dovizioso's conservative pace up front made for a leading pack consisting of eight riders heading into the final five laps to set up a thrilling finish.

Dovizioso upped the pace in the closing stages but could not shake off Marquez, Crutchlow and Rins, although the Suzuki rider slipped out of contention after running wide into the first turn with just three laps to go.

Marquez hit the front with two laps left after passing Dovizioso under braking, but the Italian powered past the world champion on the home straight going into the final lap.

A exhilarating last lap saw the two rivals fighting for top spot, with Dovizioso retaking the lead on the final corner to clinch the first victory of the new season by just 0.023 seconds:

It was a superb start to the new MotoGP year with Dovizioso picking up his second win in Qatar, while Crutchlow also deserves credit for his third-place finish on his comeback after serious injury.

The next race on the calendar is the Argentina Grand Prix at the Termas de Rio Hondo Circuit on March 13.

Subscribe to MotoGP