#93 vs #73 heats up in Argentina as Zarco secures Honda’s first front-row spot since 2023.
Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) is on a roll, grabbing back-to-back poles for the first time since 2019 at the Gran Premio YPF Energía de Argentina. With a jaw-dropping 1:36.917 lap — the first ever sub‑1:36 time at this venue — Marquez has set a new record and sits a full quarter of a second clear of the rest.
Right on his heels, Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) continues to keep the pressure on, while Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) pulls off some magic to earn third, marking Honda’s first front-row appearance since 2023, just 0.042 seconds behind the #73.
The Battle for Q2
The early part of qualifying saw Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) post a hot lap that secured him a top spot, with Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) in close pursuit for P2. But when the final four minutes hit, drama unfolded. Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda LCR) fell at Turn 2 and rookie Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) mirrored that misfortune on his lap, both missing out on Q2. Then, on his second run, Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) surged up to claim P2, pushing Miller to P3 and locking in a fierce battle for pole.
Q2 – The #93 on Fire
Once Q2 kicked off, Marquez immediately set the pace, shattering the lap record at Termas de Río Hondo by coming in just shy of the first-ever 1’36 lap at the circuit. Shortly after, Zarco’s stellar performance secured him a provisional spot on the front row, setting the benchmark for everyone else. With the final five minutes ticking down, it was full throttle as riders fought to better their times. Alex Marquez kept close to his brother, while Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) managed to secure P4. But it was Marquez who stole the show on his penultimate flying lap, clocking in at 1’36.917 — his first back-to-back poles since the Austrian and British Grands Prix in 2019. Alex Marquez held on for P2, and Zarco clinched his first Honda front row since 2023, with no one else able to challenge his pace.
Fireworks in the Back
Down the order, Pecco made it to fourth as he aimed for a fast start, joined by ‘El Tiburon’ Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) who pushed hard to get in with the leaders. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) remained just under a tenth of a second off the front, having shown he was second fastest on Friday. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) improved on his season opener by finishing P7 in Argentina, ahead of a resurging Morbidelli. Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) climbed into P9, one place ahead of Joan Mir, while Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) rounded out the Q2 field, with Rins securing his best grid slot since Sepang last year.
Now, as the countdown to the Tissot Sprint begins, all eyes are on the track. Don’t miss the action at 15:00 (UTC-3) for what promises to be an unforgettable showdown!
New for 2025: qualifying statistics
Marc Marquez – Pole Position
Marc Marquez has secured pole for the 68th time in MotoGP and the sixth time at Termas de Río Hondo. This marks the fourth track where he’s racked up six or more poles—joining Austin, Aragon, and Sachsenring. It’s also his first back-to-back pole since 2019, when he claimed four consecutive poles from Sachsenring to Silverstone. Now, Marquez is looking to notch his third Tissot Sprint win after successes in Aragon 2024 and Thailand, and it would be his first Sprint win in consecutive Grands Prix.
Alex Marquez – P2
Alex Marquez has qualified second, just as he did in Thailand. This is the first time he’s secured a top-three qualifying position in back-to-back Grands Prix, marking his best performance since his sole pole in Argentina in 2023.
Ducati Front Row
Ducati continues their dominance by locking in the front row for the 82nd consecutive Grand Prix—a streak that began in Valencia back in 2020.
Johann Zarco – P3
Johann Zarco has qualified third, giving Honda their first top-three qualifying result since Mugello 2023. This is his first Honda front row and overall top-three finish since Valencia in 2023, when he also qualified third riding a Ducati. Zarco is now aiming to secure Honda’s first Sprint win, which would also be his first.
Francesco Bagnaia – P4
Francesco Bagnaia qualified fourth—a rare miss from the top three for him since he qualified fifth in Australia last year.
Pedro Acosta – P5
Pedro Acosta has qualified fifth as the best KTM rider, marking his best qualifying result since he grabbed pole in Japan last year.
Fabio Di Giannantonio – P6
Fabio Di Giannantonio has qualified sixth, matching his best result from Assen last year.
Manufacturer Spotlight
Ducati will be aiming to notch their 16th consecutive Sprint win—a streak that began in Mugello last year.
Official MotoGP Press Release
