As it happened: Aleix Espargaro claims Aprilia's first-ever MotoGP pole!

Round three of the 2022 MotoGP World Championships takes place at the Termas de Rio Hondo Circuit, Argentina. 

With freight delays including equipment for championship leader Enea Bastianini and Mandalika race winner Miguel Oliveira failing to arrive in time, all Friday practice sessions were cancelled, before a revised schedule was announced for Saturday. 

The new schedule initially pointed to MotoGP having three practices ahead of qualifying, however, further amendments were made as FP3 was cancelled all-together. 

That means Saturday includes two hour-long FP1 and FP2 sessions, before qualifying as normal. 

Heading into the weekend as firm favourites, KTM riders Oliveira and Brad Binder will look to continue the Austrian manufacturer’s impressive form - KTM currently leads the constructors championship.

In terms of the riders championship it’s as close as ever with Bastianini, Binder, reigning world champion Fabio Quartararo, Oliveira and Johann Zarco separated by just five points. 

The last time MotoGP raced in Argentina (2019) Marc Marquez came out victorious, winning by a dominant margin of ten seconds from Valentino Rossi and Andrea Dovizioso. 

But with the eight-time world champion still suffering from diplopia issues, the Repsol Honda rider has been ruled out of this weekend, therefore an attempt at win #4 around the 2.9 mile circuit will need to wait until 2023. 

Since returning to the calendar in 2014, the Argentina MotoGP has been dominated by Honda and Yamaha, as Ducati, Suzuki, KTM and Aprilia will all be looking for their first wins at the Termas circuit. 

Looking to bounce back following disastrous starts to 2022, Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin are arguably the two riders most in need of a result. 

The Ducati pair have one point between them thus far, a surprise given both were viewed as championship contenders prior to the season getting underway.