From the temples of Thailand to the streets of Argentina, where the rhythm of tango fills the air, the MotoGP circus moves to Termas de Río Hondo. This track has witnessed historic first victories, intense battles, and thrilling action that never fails to deliver. This weekend, all eyes are on one rider who arrives with a target on his back.
Marc Márquez, the Man to Beat
Fresh off a successful pre-season in Ducati red, Marc Márquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) leads the World Championship standings for the first time in 93 Grands Prix. After his dominant double victory in Buriram, he returns to a circuit where he was the first-ever winner, has secured three victories, and left a lasting mark on the sport.
Termas de Río Hondo is a track that seems to belong to Márquez, even though Ducati’s factory team has never won here. The Italian manufacturer has only one victory to its name at this circuit, courtesy of Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) in 2023. Márquez hasn’t raced in Argentina since 2019, but back then, he was in a league of his own, finishing 9.8 seconds ahead of Valentino Rossi. His teammate, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), has never stepped onto the Argentine podium in any category, but after securing a solid double podium in Buriram, it would be hard to count him out of the fight this weekend.
Can A. Márquez and Ogura Shine Again?
So far, every lap of the 2025 season has been led by a Márquez, thanks to Alex Márquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP). He briefly took the lead from his brother during a tactical opening Grand Prix. The number 73 rider achieved his first Ducati podium at Termas in 2023, alongside an impressive fifth-place finish in the Tissot Sprint, ahead of Pecco Bagnaia. Could this be a good omen heading into the second round?
Meanwhile, Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP™ Team) has made a spectacular debut, delivering the best rookie performance in the premier class since Marc Márquez in 2013. The Japanese rider has raced at Termas just twice, but in his second outing, he secured a Moto2™ podium with a strong third-place finish. Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) heads to South America following a solid start to the season. The Italian finished fourth in both the Grand Prix and Tissot Sprint at Termas in 2023 while riding for Yamaha. Expect the number 21 to be in contention once again, especially with strong support from Brazilian fans in the stands.
Bezzecchi and Aprilia: The Perfect Combo for Termas?
With a solid top-six finish in Buriram, Marco Bezzecchi has kicked off his 2025 campaign and his new chapter with Aprilia on the right foot. The number 72 rider claimed victory in Argentina last year, following Aprilia’s dominant win in 2022 with Aleix Espargaró, marking the brand’s first-ever MotoGP™ triumph. Now united, Bezzecchi and Aprilia have a golden opportunity to make a statement at the YPF Energía Grand Prix of Argentina.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) is also looking to make strides. After overcoming pre-season injuries, he secured a top-10 finish in Thailand and aims to fight closer to the front at Termas. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) is another rider to watch. He won the Tissot Sprint at Termas in 2023 and managed two eighth-place finishes in Thailand despite starting from 14th on the grid. His goal this weekend is to improve even further. His teammate, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), will be an exciting prospect as well, as he takes on Termas for the first time in his MotoGP™ career.
Honda vs. Yamaha: The Battle Continues
One thing is clear—both Honda and Yamaha have stepped up their game in 2025. Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) already improved on Honda’s best result from 2024 by finishing seventh in the season opener. His teammate, Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda LCR), also had a promising debut in front of his home crowd. Over at the factory team, Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) and Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) continue to show progress, with Mir even securing a top-10 spot before crashing out. While Honda has previously won in Argentina with Marc Márquez, in this new era, the Japanese manufacturer is aiming for another strong result, potentially even improving on its solid showing in Thailand.
Yamaha also had reasons to be optimistic, even if pre-season expectations haven’t fully materialized yet. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) had a tough Grand Prix but showed flashes of brilliance in the Tissot Sprint, where he climbed from 10th place. His teammate, Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), may not have matched Quartararo’s performance, but he is no stranger to success at Termas, having finished on the MotoGP™ podium in Argentina twice before.
With so many contenders in the mix, the battle at Termas de Río Hondo is shaping up to be an unmissable spectacle. Who will emerge victorious in Argentina? The answer will come this weekend.
