MotoGP Argentina Warm Up LIVE: Aleix Espargaro still holds the torch!

 For the first time since the introduction of MotoGP™️ in 2002, Aleix Espargaro secured pole position for Aprilia !

This is not a first in the premier category for the Noale factory, since Tetsuya Harada in Italy and Jeremy McWilliamsin Australia had done the same in 1999 and 2000, but it is the tangible sign of the progress made by the RS-GP in recent times, helped by the concession system.

For his 200th start in 11 seasons in MotoGP, Alex Espargaro Will he transform this pole position, his third personal one in MotoGP after Assen/2014 (with Forward Yamaha) and Catalunya/2015 (with Suzuki), into a first victory for the Italian firm? Many of them believe in it and, in any case, he never seemed to have such a good machine, as shown by the double achieved by Aprilia in FP2: even if the Spaniard often crashed in Argentina, his 11th season in MotoGP may be the right one...

While waiting to know who will truly win this Grand Prix, the drivers have a warm-up extended to 40 minutes to finalize their choice of tires under constant sunshine and temperatures of 19° in the air and 27° on the asphalt. But also to achieve the best times, since this is what has just happened in Moto2, thanks to a particularly fast track this morning...

Let's enjoy these few minutes of live broadcast thanks to the official website MotoGP.com as the 24 pilots prepare:

Here are the latest references available:

Argentine GP MotoGP™	2019	2022
FP1	1'39.827 Marc Márquez (See here)	1'39.028 Takaaki Nakagami (See here)
FP2	1'39.181 Andrea Dovizioso (See here)	1'38.244 Aleix Espargaro (See here)
FP3	1'38.471 Marc Máask (See here)	Canceled
FP4	1'39.341 Marc Máask (See here)	Canceled
Q1	1'39.064 Takaaki Nakagami (See here)	1'38.501 Pol Espargaro (See here)
Q2	1'38.304 Marc Márquez (See here)	1'37.688 Aleix Espargaro (See here)
Warm up	1'39.096 Marc Márquez (See here)	1'38.648 Aleix Espargaro (See here)
Course	Marquez, Rossi, Dovizioso (See here)
All time lap record	1'37.683 Marc Márquez 2014

When the red lights go out... the tradition continues at the foot of the Andes, with Franco Morbidelli setting off first on the track, fabio quartararo the last.

Given the still relatively cool temperatures, everyone chose the soft rear tire while opinions differ regarding the front. For the race, we expect unanimity of soft at the rear and hard at the front...

At the end of the first flying lap, Enea Bastianini registered the first reference in 1'40.249 in front Johann zarco et Marco Bezzecchi.
In the wake, John Zarco achieves 1'39.452 ahead of his teammate Jorge Martin.

One more loop and Alex Espargaro resumes the domination he has shown until now, in 1'39.305, this time with Marco Bezzecchi on his heels...

The Aprilia rider returns to his box to chat with Antonio Jimenez while fabio quartararo achieves the best time in 1'39.287.
Brad Binder improves in 1'39.068 while Takaaki Nakagami made up for a slightly missed qualification yesterday by temporarily positioning itself second.

After 15 minutes, fabio quartararo, one of the rare drivers to use the soft front tire, took command in 1'38.892, just before Marco Bezzecchi makes a mistake at turn #6.

The official KTMs show their rhythm, Miguel Oliveira et Brad Binder positioning themselves second and third respectively.

The Aprilias respond immediately, Alex Espargaro et Maverick Vinales stealing their places behind El Diablo.

In the following passages, Alex Espargaro also lowers the reference to 1'38.723 then 1'38.648.

Halfway through the session, the hierarchy is made up of Aleix Espargaro, Fabio Quartararo, Jorge Martin, Maverick Vinales, Miguel Oliveira, Brad Binder, Takaaki Nakagami, Joan Mir, Enea Bastianini, Franco Morbidelli, Francesco Bagnaia, Alex Rins, Marco Bezzecchi, Johann Zarco, Jack Miller, Alex Márquez, Pol Espargaro , Andrea Dovizioso, Raul Fernandez, Stefan Bradl, Gardner, Luca Marini, Darryn Binder and Fabio Di Giannantonio.

Braking at the end of the straight…

Luca marini makes a minor mistake at turn #2 while fabio quartararo leaves with a hard tire at the front after a sort of very sustained race simulation. Francis Bagnaia rises to fifth position.

At this point in the session, only 1,1 seconds separate the first Alex Espargaro of the 24th and last Remy gardner but the Aprilia rider still managed to create a gap of 2/10 on his first pursuer.

Two minutes from the checkered flag, alex rins rises to third place.

So no, Alex Espargaro did not break the track record, but the Aprilia rider continues to clearly establish himself as the favorite for the Grand Prix which will start at 20 p.m.!

Results of the warm up of the MotoGP Argentine Grand Prix on the Termas de Río Hondo circuit:

Classification credit: MotoGP.com