Marquez crashes from lead in Argentina as KTM earn first MotoGP points.
Maverick Viñales was handed the lead as early as the fourth lap when Marc Marquez, who had started in pole position and was building a healthy lead, lost control of his Repsol Honda and crashed out into the gravel on turn two.
While plenty of drama and action happened behind him, Viñales cruised to a second win in a row on his Movistar Yamaha and strengthened his early season lead at the top of the standings.
It was a successful day for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team as well as they took advantage of the madness around them to earn some first world championship points in MotoGP.
Pol Espargaro finished 14th to claim two points with teammate Bradley Smith one place further back to pick up one point.
Valentino Rossi, teammate of Viñales, came home second on his 350th Grand Prix after a successful late move on Cal Crutchlow who settled for third spot.
Marquez wasn’t the only rider to end up on the tarmac in an attritional race at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit with Dani Pedrosa, Jorge Lorenzo and Aleix Espargaro among the seven non-finishers.
The reigning world champion said: “I was feeling amazing with the bike. I don’t know why (I crashed), for sure I did some mistake.”
The next race takes place in Austin, Texas, on April 23.
