If Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez doubted🏅 the level of passion for MotoGP in Argentina, after an absence of 15 years, they were in for a surprise when they headed out for separate meals near the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit on Wednesday.

"Yesterday we can understand a little bit the feeling of the animals in the zoo, with all the people that take the picture all the time! So was not ver⭕y funny," said nine time world champion Rossi. "You know, I expect something like this especially from the airport when there were a lot of people. I thought it will be a very difficult weekend!

"At the end it is better ❀to have a lot of fans than nobody, but I think my strategy will be to stay closed in the paddock, then the hotel, then paddock... then Sunday take the aeroplane and go! Impossible to go out I think!"

Reigning MotoGP champion Marquez added: "For me yesterday night the problem was Valentino! (Laughter) Because I was in a restaurant in front and all the people were waiting for him. When he left, somebody said 'in front is Marquez' then all the people came over to me! A little bit is fun, but..𒐪. I think on the track things will be better!"

Free practice gets underway on Friday morning.