Motorcycling: Five-time world champion Marc Marquez dominates in Argentina to take MotoGP lead

Spain's Marc Marquez sprays champagne as he celebrates on the podium after winning the MotoGP Argentina Grand Prix at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, on March 31, 2019. PHOTO: AFP

BUENOS AIRES (REUTERS) - Honda's five-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez won the Argentinian Grand Prix on Sunday (March 31) to take the overall lead from Ducati rival Andrea Dovizioso.

The Spaniard, who started on pole position at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit, now has 45 points to the Italian's 41 after two races.

Italian great Valentino Rossi finished second for Yamaha with Dovizioso, winner of the Qatar season-opener, third.

"I ride like when I was young, I enjoyed it very much," said Rossi, who passed Dovizioso on the last lap, of his first podium finish as a 40-year-old and first since he was second in Germany last July.

Marquez won by more than nine seconds, making a lightning start and then pulling away to leave the rest to scrap for second.

Last year's winner Cal Crutchlow was ruled out of the reckoning after being handed a ride-through penalty for a jumped start, something the Briton felt was unwarranted.

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