Monster Yamaha's Maverick Vinales began the Argentina MotoGP weekend in 18th place, but set-up improvements have helped carry him to second in qualifying, behind only Honda's Marc Marquez.
MotoGP champion Marc Marquez heads into Sunday's Argentine MotoGP as the clear pre-race favourite. But that was also the case one year ago, when incidents and mishaps left him out of the points.
Jack Miller was in with a fighting chance of repeating last year's Argentina MotoGP pole position, this time in pure dry conditions, only for a 'big ole highside' moment to cost him valuable tenths.
Marquez takes pole position for the Argentine MotoGP at Termas de Rio Hondo, ahead of Vinales and Dovizioso, meaning three different manufacturers on the front row.
The top two riders in Q1 - Nakagami and Pol Espargaro - now progress to the Q2 pole position shootout, where they will join the ten fastest riders after third practice.
Marquez leads FP3 with the best lap of the weekend so far, while Miller holds second once again. Friday leader Dovizioso misses the end of the session due to a fall, but stays in the top ten for direct access to the second and final part of qualifying.
On pole and fighting for the podium in Argentina one year ago, Jack Miller was again a front-running contender during Friday practice for the 2019 event.
Monster Yamaha riders Maverick Vinales and Valentino Rossi could only manage tenth and 18th places as they battled wheelspin during a dirty opening practice in Argentina.
Qatar winner Dovizioso takes over at the top during FP2 for the Argentine MotoGP at Termas de Rio Hondo. Morning leader Marquez had been fastest heading into the final ten minutes, when most riders used new soft tyres.
Marquez fastest during opening practice for the Argentina MotoGP at Termas de Rio Hondo, despite a slightly delayed appearance on track due to bike-starting issues.
In the aftermath of the Ducati swingarm spoiler protest, MotoGP Technical Director Danny Aldridge has explained why he issues guidelines alongside the official rules decided by the MSMA (Motorcycle Sports Manufacturers’ Association).
Earlier this week, the MotoGP Court of Appeal confirmed Andrea Dovizioso as winner of the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix by rejecting a protest made against Ducati's swingarm spoiler by Honda, Suzuki, Aprilia and KTM.
Now that the MotoGP Court of Appeal has confirmed the Ducati swingarm spoiler is legal, rival manufacturers will have no choice but to develop a similar device of their own.