QATAR MotoGP's surprise victor MaverickViñales has done it again, showing signs of yet another Spanish prodigy to leave his compatriots Marc Márquez, Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa quaking in their boots.
And his win at yesterday's (Sunday's) Argentina Grand Prix came as Britain's Cal Crutchlow enjoyed his best result yet, finally making it to the podium in third place behind Viñales' team-mate, Italian veteran Valentino Rossi (Yamaha YZR M-1).
Viñales' second victory on the trot came after missing out on pole and starting second off the grid, but he managed to pass Crutchlow's team-mate and defending world champion Marc Márquez (Honda RC 213V) by the second lap, meaning his strongest rival was behind him from very early on in the race at the Termas del Río Hondo circuit.
Meanwhile, Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Desmosedici GP17) bit the dust after bumping Italy's Andrea Iannone (Suzuki GSX-RR) from behind on a bend.
Márquez managed to squeeze ahead of Viñales and Crutchlow with a 1.3-second advantage a lap later.
Crutchlow was barely coping against attacks from Viñales behind, who was desperately trying to pass him and gain ground on the current champion from Lleida (Catalunya).
This did not take long, since Márquez's front wheel blocked on the second bend of lap three and saw him hit the ground, giving Viñales, Crutchlow and Rossi ample time to pass him and widen their advantage over the Repsol Honda rider.
Iannone was sanctioned with a time handicap for leaving the grid too early, according to the race directors, and his team-mate, Spaniard Álex Rins – already limping slightly following a right foot fracture whilst practising motocross – fell on lap eight, although he was unhurt and resumed at the back of the line before retiring shortly after.
Viñales' first fast circuit was on lap eight, in which he increased his advantage over Crutchlow but was struggling against Rossi who was completely glued to the back end of his Yamaha waiting for an opportunity.
Behind the duo, a quintet was battling it out for fourth place – Italy's Andrea Dovizioso and Danilo Petrucci (both Ducati Desmosedici GP17), Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC 213-V), Spain's Álvaro Bautista (Ducati Desmosedici GP16) and France's Johann Zarco (Yamaha YZR M-1).
Czechia's Karel Abraham (Ducati Desmosedici GP15) had been second in the qualifier, but proved no match for the usual crowd and dropped down to seventh position on lap one, then 14th on lap two.
Pedrosa fell on lap 13 and was forced to retire, and Dovizioso was next to go down after Spain's Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia RS-GP) ploughed into him when his tyre came off as he tried to pass him on the fifth bend.
With Viñales first, Rossi second and Crutchlow third – his best result since his MotoGP début on a non-factory bike in 2013 – a very creditable and well-earned fourth place went to Bautista, whilst the remaining results for Spain saw Esteve 'Tito' Rabat (Honda RC 213-V) 12th, Héctor Barberá (Ducati Desmosedici GP16) 13th and Pol Espargaró earn the first few points for Austrian factory KTM by coming 14th.
