MotoGP: Viñales stamps authority on day one in Argentina

Maverick Viñales has continued to stamp his authority on the 2017 MotoGP world championship at the Argentinian Grand Prix, finishing the first day of action well clear at the top of the time sheets while his title rivals struggled.

The Movistar Yamaha rider ended the day 0.3 ahead of Marc Marquez, but it was the Pull&Bear Aspar Ducati pair of Karel Abraham and Alvaro Bautista who stunned the paddock by coming home in third and fourth, with Danilo Petrucci and Loris Baz making it four Ducatis in the top six.

Cal Crutchlow was seventh ahead of Jonas Folger and Aleix Espargaró, with Andrea Iannone securing the final top ten spot and provisionally the final spot in Q2; something that could be key tomorrow with heavy rain forecast for the final chance to secure entry in FP3.

It was a disastrous day for some of the main players in the series though, with Dani Pedrosa 13^th, Valentino Rossi 16^th and Jorge Lorenzo 18^th as they continue to struggle for grip at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit.