Marc Marquez on top in Argentina MotoGP practice / Photo: © AFP
-
Sooriyabandara, Mendis lead Sri Lanka fightback after follow-on
-
Lebanon accuses Israel of burning forest, farmland in south
-
With ropes and chants, thousands move Japanese castle
-
Nepal floods at China border kill 8, cause 'major casualties' in Tibet
-
Zurich Diamond League: five events to watch
-
France eases cow diets as cheesemakers sweat
-
'Black smoke' chokes Pakistan maternity ward as hospital fire kills 14 infants
-
America unites in mourning for Dolly Parton
-
French flight attendant wins landmark breast cancer ruling
-
Meta and US states discuss settlement in landmark social media trial: report
-
Sri Lanka 83-2 after India enforce follow-on in second Test
-
Fire haze threatens health of millions in Indonesia, ministry warns
-
Pakistan hospital fire kills 14 infants
-
Senegal-made sickle cell treatment raises hopes, reduces costs
-
Iceland to vote on resuming EU talks in close referendum
-
Iran says Hormuz strait still closed despite transit corridor talks
-
North Korea to 'bring joy' to Kim with 100 athletes at Asian Games
-
'Our patron saint': Tennesseans mourn local hero Dolly Parton
-
US LGBTQ community mourns 'diva' Dolly Parton
-
Australian police hunt thieves in $250,000 oyster heist
-
England bid to banish booze woes as Pakistan seek self-respect
-
Coordinated attacks: Thailand's southern insurgency flares
-
High quality, low risk: record number of Japanese in Premier League
-
Asian Games chiefs hold talks as participant numbers balloon
-
Stocks edge higher as oil drops on fresh Mideast hopes
-
Too small for fries: drought shrinks Belgian potatoes
-
Pakistan's girls fight for their place in the boxing ring
-
Drought-hit Danube gives way to fossil hunt in Bulgaria
-
Five things to know about Anthropic ahead of Wall Street debut
-
Julia Curlee, CIA officer fired by White House for being transgender
-
Social media use on the rise among Australian under-16s after ban: data
-
Fave or flop? A guide to gauging video game success
-
Instagram chief admits touting teen safety tool while omitting it was barely used
-
Williams-Alcaraz fall in US Open mixed quarter-finals
-
'Final Fantasy', 'The Witcher' in spotlight at Europe gaming bash
-
Mark Carney, the former central banker who said 'no' to Trump
-
Syrian Kurdish leader dissolves force that spearheaded jihadist fight
-
Segner out of South Africa tour as New Zealand injuries pile up
-
Trump raises prospect of demolishing iconic Kennedy Center
-
Meta knew teen safety tools were ineffective, witnesses testify
-
PGA Tour to end in two-week matchplay showdown from 2028: CEO
-
Williams and Alcaraz win opener at US Open mixed doubles
-
United States of Dolly: how a country queen bridged America's divide
-
Man Utd's Fernandes crowned PFA player of the year
-
PGA chief says 'no current plans' for LIV stars to return
-
Dolly Parton: quotes on life, love and music
-
Golf giant Callaway apologizes after ad sparks outcry
-
Brazil fines TikTok $30 mn in 'powerful signal' over child safety
-
Ioane stars as New Zealand recover to beat Johannesburg Lions
-
Cameroon's Baleba joins as Man Utd boost midfield options
Marc Marquez on top in Argentina MotoGP practice
Six-time world champion Marc Marquez was fastest in first practice for the Argentina MotoGP on Friday, continuing the blistering form which saw him storm to victory in the season-opener in Thailand.
The Spanish star, a three-time winner in Argentina, clocked 1min 37.295sec on his factory Ducati on a drying track at Termas de Rio Hondo, the small spa town situated 1,100km north-west of Buenos Aires.
Just as they had done in Thailand, Ducati again dominated with Fabio Di Giannantonio and Marquez's younger brother Alex filling out the top three.
Alex Marquez, who was second in the season-opener two weeks ago, took pole in Argentina when the track last staged a MotoGP in 2023.
He went on to finish third that weekend in another Ducati podium sweep.
Double world champion Francesco Bagnaia, on the second factory Ducati, just squeezed into the top 10 -- and a direct place in the second qualifying session on Saturday -- despite crashing in the closing minutes on Friday.
The Argentina MotoGP, round two of the 22-race season, will be missing world champion Jorge Martin.
The Spanish Aprilia rider has still not recovered from the injures which sidelined him in Thailand.
Martin said Thursday that he will also sit out the third round in Texas at the end of March and may also still not be ready by the time the Qatar MotoGP rolls around in mid-April.
Practice times (top 10 go straight into 2nd qualifying session on Saturday):
1. Marc Marquez (ESP/Ducati) 1:37.295 (Q), 2. Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA/Ducati-VR46) at 0.135 (Q), 3. Alex Marquez (ESP/Ducati-Gresini) 0.201 (Q), 4. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA/Aprilia) 0.215 (Q), 5. Brad Binder (RSA/KTM) 0.251 (Q), 6. Alex Rins (ESP/Yamaha) 0.296 (Q), 7. Johann Zarco (FRA/Honda-LCR) 0.390 (Q), 8. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha) 0.523 (Q), 9. Pedro Acosta (ESP/KTM) 0.532 (Q), 10. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati) 0.539 (Q), 11. Ai Ogura (JPN/Aprilia-Trackhouse) 0.560, 12. Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Ducati-VR46) 0.636, 13. Joan Mir (ESP/Honda) 0.680, 14. Jack Miller (AUS/Yamaha-Pramac) 0.763, 15. Luca Marini (ITA/Honda) 0.841, 16. Maverick Vinales (ESP/KTM-Tech3) 1.020, 17. Fermín Aldeguer (ESP/Ducati-Gresini) 1.052, 18. Miguel Oliveira (POR/Yamaha-Pramac) 1.354, 19. Somkiat Chantra (THA/Honda-LCR) 1.356, 20. Raul Fernandez (ESP/Aprilia-Trackhouse) 1.451, 21. Enea Bastianini (ITA/KTM-Tech3) 1.490, 22. Lorenzo Savadori (ITA/Aprilia) 1.781
D.Schaer--VB
