MotoGP: Maverick Vinales wins Argentina Grand Prix after Marc Marquez crash

MAVERICK VINALES tightened his early season grip on the MotoGP crown with a second victory in as many races with a dominant victory in a dramatic race in Argentina.

Maverick Vinales leading Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi, the team-mate of Vinales, in his 350th Grand Prix was riding hard and reeled in the determined Cal Crutchlow, aboard the LCR Honda, to grab second place with six laps to go.

Maverick Vinales led home Valentino Rossi and Cal Crutchlow to win the Argentina Grand Prix

Rossi, once through was able to ease clear, opening up a lead of a second over Crutchlow but he was unable to make any inroads on the leader in what had been a race of attrition in which Jorge Lorenzo, Aleix Espargaro, Andrea Dovizioso and Alex Rins had all crashed.

“It was a difficult race because I started quite good but already Marc was pushing so hard,” Vinales said.

“From the first lap I was trying to make my own pace.

“Then I saw that he crashed and I was thinking to bring all the points home that I could because it was very important to achieve maximum points today.

“I’m so happy, the team was working really good and the bike was incredible today.

“Thanks to the team – they are doing a good job.”