MotoGP Grand Prix of Argentina 2015: Race Schedule, Live Stream and Top Riders

MotoGP champion Marc Marquez truly kick-started his 2015 season last time out as he won the second race of the term in Texas.

Next up is the Grand Prix of Argentina this weekend, and the 22-year-old Spaniard will be looking to repeat the trick of last season when he took victory in Santiago del Estero.

However, though only two races old, the 2015 MotoGP season looks as though it could be a close-run thing, with Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso and Movistar Yamaha veteran Valentino Rossi both looking in good form.

Both are sitting ahead of third-placed Marquez in the current standings and will hope to keep it that way in Argentina.

Read on for a closer look at the key riders ahead of all of the action in South America, as well as the full race schedule.

Date	Time (BST/ET)	Event
Friday, April 17	1:55 p.m. - 2:40 p.m./8:55 a.m. - 9:40 a.m.	Free Practice 1
Friday, April 17	6:05 p.m. - 6:50 p.m./1:05 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.	Free Practice 2
Saturday, April 18	1:55 p.m. - 2:40 p.m./8:55 a.m. - 9:40 a.m.	Free Practice 3
Saturday, April 18	5:30 p.m. - 6 p.m./12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m.	Free Practice 4
Saturday, April 18	6:10 p.m./1:10 p.m.	Qualifying
Sunday, April 19	8 p.m./3 p.m.	Race

Available live on BT Sport 2 (UK) and Fox Sports 1 (US), with live streaming via BT Sport Player and Fox Sports Go

Marc Marquez

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

After a somewhat underwhelming start for the defending champion when he came fifth in the season opener in Qatar after a mistake at the first corner, Repsol Honda's Marquez returned to winning ways last week at the Grand Prix of Americas.

It was a convincing display from the Spanish superstar, as he led home Dovizioso in second and Rossi in third, per BT Sport MotoGP:

Marquez won the championship at a canter last season—his second triumph in as many seasons—winning 13 races in a record-breaking campaign.

He expects a tougher challenge in 2015, though, with a couple of riders looking to topple the man who has dominated MotoGP over the last year, per Crash.net:

"

It looks like it will be an interesting championship because Valentino and Andrea are really consistent. After what happened in Qatar it was time to come back to the top and try to recover some points, but anyway I am happy because I felt good with the bike and this result gives us confidence for the next race.

"

Marquez has every right to be confident for Argentina, having claimed victory at the circuit last season despite a difficult start to the race.

Qualifying could be vital in Argentina, and after his quite sensational pole position run in Texas, Marquez is the man to beat, per Motor Sport:

He currently sits five points back from first-placed Rossi in the standings, so a win this weekend for Marquez would see him reach the summit for the first time this season. Only a brave man would bet against him.

Andrea Dovizioso

Ducati are in some fine form so far this year, with Dovizioso having picked up 40 points already with two second-placed finishes, while Andrea Iannone has 27 points.

The Italian outfit seem to have produced a fantastic bike this year, with MotoGP broadcaster Dennis Noyes pithily summing up how well they have started the season, per Cycle World:

Having finished fifth in the championship last season, the Italian Dovizioso could be a genuine title challenger in 2015, but he could do with getting an early win on the board to put some daylight between him and Marquez.

His first port of call for Argentina, though, is to replicate his Texas performance and finish ahead of Rossi, having proven that he has what it takes to beat the veteran rider.

Dovizioso clearly has ambitions to be fighting it out at the very top throughout the season, and he is looking to improve again in Argentina, per MotoGP.com:

"

I am particularly pleased with the work of my team because on a completely different track from Losail we confirmed that the GP15 is competitive and we managed to improve during the weekend. This year we have already had two great races, but we must continue to work because we’re still lacking a bit of fine-tuning in braking and traction, small improvements that will make the difference when it comes to fighting for the top positions at every circuit.

"

As the 29-year-old mentions, his bike is not quite the finished article, suggesting there is room for improvement as the season moves on.

But after two races, he is looking very much like the form rider, and Dovizioso could make it a third different race-winner from three this weekend.