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Brad Binder won the MotoGP sprint race in Argentina after a stunning ride up from 15th on the grid.
The South African beat Marco Bezzecchi by just 0.072s with his Mooney VR46 teammate Luca Marini third to secure a double podium for the team.
Binder enjoyed a meteoric rise through the field on lap one, jumping from his low starting position to fourth and taking the lead on lap three en route to victory.
Ahead of the sprint, Marquez secured pole after a dramatic day for the Spaniard in Q1, in which he went to the front, crashed and abandoned his number 1 bike when it caught fire.
The younger Marquez brother rebounded in Q2 after betting on slick tires in wet conditions to secure a first pole and his place at the front of the field for Sunday’s race, following in his brother’s footsteps after his pole at the season opener.
Bezzecchi, starting second, beat the best time by two seconds but Marquez edged him to pole, while a late attack from Francesco Bagnaia saw him edge Franco Morbidelli out of the top three.
Binder’s victory in the sprint caused a stir, and the man himself was surprised by his performance.
“I didn’t expect that at all, honestly my bike worked so well from the first lap and I had the most unreal start I could have ever wished for,” he told reporters.
“I was really lucky [at the start] where there was a gap where the riders split up, some on the left and some on the right so I could get in the middle and just smash through.
“I could never have dreamed of starting so well, so when I saw an opportunity to be first, I grabbed it with both hands and from there it was about everyone who passed me, tried to bomb them back directly.
“We have taken a giant step [Friday] and I was able to keep my rhythm on my fastest lap [Friday], so hats off to the team. You did an unreal job.
“My rhythm wasn’t bad and although the other guys had a bit more in the end we won the race so I can’t complain and I’m really happy.”
GRID CLASSIFICATION
1. Alex Marquez (Gresini) 1:43.881
2. Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46) +0.172
3. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) +0.858
4. Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha) +2.101
5. Outsiders Vinales (Aprilia) +2,355
6.Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) +2.582
7. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46) +2,707
8. Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) +2.754
9. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia) +2,997
10. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) +3.241
SPRINT RESULT
1. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) 19:56:873
2. Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46) +0.072
3. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46) +0.877
4. Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha) +2.354
5. Alex Marquez (Gresini) +2.462
6. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) +2.537
7. Maverick Vinales (Aprilia) +2,643
8. Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) +3.754
9. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) +4,856
10. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM) +5.143
CHAMPIONSHIP STAND
1. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) 41
2. Maverick Vinales (April) 28
3. Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46) 25
4. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) 22
5. Alex Marquez (Gresini) 17
6.Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) 15
7. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM) 15
8. Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) 11
9.Aleix Espargaro (April) 11
10. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) 9