Brad Binder

Red Bull KTM rider Brad Binder won a frantic Argentina MotoGP sprint race on Saturday ahead of Ducati duo Marco Bezzecchi and Luca Marini of Italy.

[ALSO READ: Brad Binder hopeful 2023 will be his best MotoGP season yet](https://www.citizen.co.za/motoring/brad-binder-motogp-2023-season-ktm-unveiling/) “I could hear the boys behind me at the end but brought it home. [ALSO READ: Brad Binder backs Kyalami to host Formula 1 and MotoGP races](https://www.citizen.co.za/motoring/brad-binder-backs-kyalami-host-f1-motogp-races-july-2022/) [KTM](https://www.citizen.co.za/tag/ktm/) man added. [ALSO READ: KTM lauds Brad Binder for his brave ride in MotoGP opener](https://www.citizen.co.za/motoring/brad-binder-ktm-motogp-portugal-reaction/) [the sprint and the showpiece Grand Prix](https://www.citizen.co.za/motoring/brad-binder-portugal-2023-motogp-report/) at last weekend’s season-opener in Portugal.

The second round of the 2023 MotoGP season takes place this weekend in Argentina. Check this page across the weekend for MotoGP Argentina results.

[2023 MotoGP](/news/racing/motogp/motogp-2023-guide) World Championship took place under the threat of rain, which hampered the beginning of the preceding Moto2 first practice. Repsol Honda Team [races](/news/racing). Ducati GP23 Ducati Lenovo Team Aprilia Racing Aprilia RS-GP CryptoData RNF Racing Aprilia KTM RC16 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing MotoGP Team Marco Bezzecchi took the victory, and two other satellite Ducati riders finished on the podium.

VR46 Ducati rider Bezzecchi made an immediate impression on the MotoGP paddock in his debut season in 2022 when he scored a podium at Assen.

[PlusPlusMotoGP ](/motogp/news/how-motogp-riders-are-preparing-for-the-physical-stress-of-sprint-races/10409563/) [PlusPlusMotoGP ](/motogp/news/how-motogps-underachiever-is-working-to-reverse-this-in-2023/10412982/) [PlusPlusMotoGP ](/motogp/news/is-motogps-comeback-king-ready-to-reclaim-his-throne/10413608/) [PlusPlusMotoGP ](/motogp/news/how-one-motogp-team-went-from-title-challengers-to-losing-it-all-in-four-years/10416469/) [PlusPlusMotoGP ](/motogp/news/how-the-motogp-paddock-has-offered-refuge-to-suzukis-former-team/10419545/) [PlusPlusMotoGP ](/motogp/news/the-other-suzuki-signing-that-could-transform-hondas-motogp-form/10424581/) [Aleix Espargaro](https://www.autosport.com/driver/aleix-espargaro/829595/) scored the final point in 15th on his factory Aprilia as he appeared to have battled vision problems with his helmet visor. [PlusPlusMotoGP ](/motogp/news/the-signs-that-motogps-japanese-powerhouses-are-changing-for-the-better/10440747/) [Augusto Fernandez](https://www.autosport.com/driver/augusto-fernandez/841532/) scored the best result of his rookie season so far in 11th on the Tech3 GASGAS, with Vinales the leading Aprilia in 12th at the end of a tough race for the Italian manufacturer. [PlusPlusMotoGP ](/motogp/news/can-anyone-stop-changed-bagnaia-as-ducati-tightens-its-grip-on-motogp/10447342/) [MGP MotoGPArgentinian GP ](/motogp/news/bezzecchi-felt-desperate-when-he-saw-motogp-argentina-gp-would-be-wet/10452504/) [MGP MotoGPArgentinian GP ](/motogp/news/bagnaia-very-angry-at-argentina-motogp-crash-i-dont-understand/10452515/)

Race results from the MotoGP of Argentina at Termas de Rio Hondo, round 2 of 21 in the 2023 world championship.

There were no stand-in riders this weekend but Espargaro will be replaced by KTM test rider Jonas Folger next time out. Last year's dry Aprilia winner Aleix Espargaro was never a contender in the wet and may have suffered a vision issue with his helmet as he dropped back to 14th, two places behind team-mate Vinales. Another opening lap clash saw Takaaki Nakagami force Fabio Quartararo wide at Turn 7. Bagnaia slapped his helmet with frustration on the slowdown lap. SPA Gresini Ducati (GP22)

Former MotoGP world champion Joan Mir will miss Sunday's race in Argentina due to injuries suffered in the sprint, his Honda team announced.

The Spaniard, who won the MotoGP title in 2020, crashed in the opening lap of Saturday's sprint won by Brad Binder. "After a morning medical check, Joan Mir was declared unfit for the Argentina GP by MotoGP and circuit medical staff due to cranial and cervical trauma," Honda said. Former MotoGP world champion Joan Mir will miss Sunday's race in Argentina due to injuries suffered in the sprint, his Honda team announced.

An eventful first lap at the MotoGP of Argentina culminated in Sprint race winner Brad Binder being nudged into a spin by Maverick Vinales at the Turn.

“It was just enough for the bike to spin around, so it is what it is. It just spun around on me and that was it.” Also, I didn't want to fall off again because if there was for some reason a restart, I needed to be there. “I got past a few guys early on but had a touch with somebody coming out of turn 3 [onto the straight], lost two of my wings and had quite a big shake. I was trying to play with all my maps and just used it as a bit of a learning opportunity. It would be nice to have got a point.”

KTM's Augusto Fernandez finished 11th, followed by Aprilia's Maverick Vinales in 12th, Honda's Takaaki Nakagami in 13th, Aprilia's Raul Fernandez in 14th, and ...

I felt really good on the bike, I felt really good with the bike and team. But then from that moment to the end I was really desperate to finish the race, and it was really tough but in the end it was OK.” Then I kept on trying to have Johann but he had a one second advantage one lap to the end, and when he attacked me in the last lap I said ‘OK I cannot try he will be much faster than me’ so we need to be happy, we’ve achieved a lot of points for the championship that is so long and this year, this will be the key. So I hope I will have this improvement already for the next race, we will work on it and as soon as I master this I think I will have the chance to enjoy other podiums.” All the control was good, I tried not to make any mistakes, but thinking about the podium was tough because even with 11 laps to the end I couldn’t see the podium and I was still in 7th position. But then in the warm-up as soon as I jumped on the bike it was amazing so I started to believe again and I said ‘Well, I can do this’ and as soon I started I enjoyed riding a lot, I was really focused. JOHANN ZARCO: “I was pretty focused even at the beginning I believed that in these conditions I could have a chance to be on the podium, or maybe even think about the victory. As Vale is for motorbikes, Messi is the GOAT for football and also he’s a sportsman that this year did something incredible so it was fantastic. It was a disappointing day for Viñales and Aprilia Racing, however, with the Spaniard in P12 ahead of Nakagami, Raul Fernandez (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) and a lowly 15th-placed Aleix Espargaro. The Italian was a class apart from the chasing pack in the early stages, and as the Grand Prix approached race distance, his lead kept on creeping up. But as the race settled down, Bezzecchi was able to stretch out a second lead over Alex Marquez, with Bagnaia and Morbidelli keeping in touch. From start to finish, the Italian MotoGP™ sophomore was untouchable as he produced a wet weather masterclass to claim a debut premier class victory – and with it, the World Championship lead.