Argentina, Moto2, FP1: Marini throws the first dance

Argentina marks not only the second race of the year in Moto2, but also the second meeting in the category under the engine era Triumph. A novelty hitherto perfectly negotiated and opened by Lorenzo Baldassarri who dreams of following the same trajectory as his compatriots from the VR46 Académy, Morbidelli and Bagnaia. For the moment, it's flawless, since the two aforementioned had won, like him, in Qatar, before being crowned at the end of the season... Baldassarri had qualified second to cross, last year, Argentina's finish line in fourth position.

It remains that the veteran Lüthi had given him good opposition at Losail, thus showing that his return to his roots, after a complicated year in MotoGP, is not to make up the numbers. It will be noted that, this Friday, Manzi blows out its twenty candles. Alone Nicholas Bulega, Iker Lecuona et Lukas Tulovic are younger than him.

Before getting to the heart of the matter, here is the table not to be missed to remember the performances…

Argentine GP Moto2™	2018	2019
FP1	1'44.461 Mattia Pasini
FP2	1'44.802 Alex Marquez
FP3	1'57.379 Remy Gardner
Q1	XXX
Q2	1'56.137 Xavi Virgo
warm up	1'55.481 Luca Marini
Course	Pasini, Virgo, Oliveira
All time lap record	1'42.809 Johann Zarco 2015

18° in the air and 21° on the track under an overcast sky, here are the proposed conditions. In 1'47.096, Brad Binder gives color to KTM by signing the first real reference. Alex Marquez et Lüthi follow while Gardner points out that his performance in Qatar was not an accident. Bendsneyder also reminds by completing the top 5 that the NTS has evolved significantly in one year…

While Marini takes heat from his provisional thirteenth place, Lüthi sets the bar at 1'45.799 ahead Alex Marquez et Gardner which accelerates in 1'45.509. Schrötter answers him with 188 thousandths less.

Sam Lowes improves with a 1'45.139. He even did a 1'44.726 and Lüthi follows him in this zone below 1'45 for the first time approached. Brad Binder et Baldassarri come to keep them company at the start of the last quarter of an hour. But the Englishman clocked a 1'44.656 to give himself some breathing room.

We take note that George Martin, the KTM debutant with his crown acquired in Moto3, is eighth ahead Marini and behind Locatelli et NAVARRO. Bendsneyder closes the top 10 with the NTS. Alex Marquez is fifteenth.

The last five minutes have begun and Luca Marini wakes up with a 1'44.220 which puts him in control of the exercise. Sam Lowes counterattacks but fails by 20 thousandths. Lüthi et Gardner keep in respect Alex Marquez who enters the top 5.

Marini will remain leader once the checkered flag is lowered. Lowes, Schrötter, Brad Binder with his KTM and Alex Marquez close the top 5. Virgin leads the rest of the peloton ahead Lüthi, Gardner, lecuona et Fernandez who deprives George Martin of a top 10. Baldassarri, the latest winner is twelfth.

Argentina, Moto2, FP1: Chronos