Jorge Martin (Ducati-Pramac) and Alex Rins (Suzuki) complete an all-Spanish podium as reigning French world champion Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) finished 8th in the first Argentine GP since 2019 - the previous two editions that have been canceled due to the pandemic.
Another Spaniard, Joan Mir (Suzuki), follows in 4th place, ahead of the Italian Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati), vice-champion in title, who signs his best score of the year in 5th place.
With nine different drivers on the podium in the first three races, this season promises to be particularly tight.
Espargaro now has a 7 point lead over South African Brad Binder (KTM) and 9 over former surprise leader Enea Bastianini (Ducati-Gresini), winner of the inaugural GP in Qatar.
Overall, Rins and Quartararo are 4th and 5th in the world, respectively 9 and 10 points behind the leader.
Espargaro, who on Saturday signed the very first pole position for his Aprilia team in MotoGP, has long awaited this first success in the elite.
In 283 starts in all world categories, he had never won... Hence the tears visible behind the visor, once the line was crossed.
And those of his brother Pol, a Honda driver, who crashed and watched the big brother's victory from his garage.
It is also the first victory for Aprilia in the premier category.
The Italian brand made its return to MotoGP in 2015, after a first period in the premier class from 1994 to 2000 (500cc) then from 2002 to 2004 (MotoGP).
On the French side, if Quartararo limited the breakage, Johann Zarco (Ducati-Pramac), fell on the 6th lap when he was ahead of "Quarta", then for 12th place.
Six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez, winner of the last Argentine edition in 2019, withdrew because of his double vision problems, awakened by a very violent fall during the "warm-up" (warm-up) in Indonesia on March 20.
© 2022 AFP