After the excitement of the season-opening Qatar MotoGP, which saw Marc Marquez lose out to Andrea Dovizioso in a final corner showdown, the reigning champion is urging that now is the time for maximum effort and commitment.

"We started the season with a great race and a close podium finish in Qatar, and we had a positive test in Jerez last week. I feel good at the moment, happy with my bike and with how my team is working, but we’re just at the beginning of what will surely be a tough season," said the Repsol Honda star, ahead of this weekend's event in Argentina.

"We must wait and see how it goes at different circuits, starting with Termas this Sunday. I like the Argentinian track and I enjoy the atmosphere with the fans, who are always very passionate and supportive, but we must not lower our guard.

"After the excitement of the first race, it’s now time to be calm, concentrate, and work hard to try and be faster.

"I think this Championship is very open, with many strong rivals that can fight for the victory on Sunday. At the moment everything seems very equal, and during the season we’ll see who is able to improve and to consistently stay at the front.”

Marquez's caution regarding his rivals stems partly from the way that Dovizioso slipped under the radar in the early part of last season.

Having won the opening round of this year, the Ducati rider is no longer a dark horse and Marquez admitted that it was a case of the usual suspects rising to the top at round one.

"It doesn’t matter who, but I want to fight for the championship. This is the target. I don’t know and I don’t care which names [I fight against], but Andrea was the main rival last year and this year he started in a good way," Marquez said.

"During pre-season we saw many riders could be fast, but then in the real moment it's always the same riders in front. But at the moment we have only had the first race. We need to take care about everybody."

Marquez won in Argentina in 2014 and 2016, either side of a clash with Valentino Rossi.

But no Repsol Honda reached the finish of last year's race, with Marquez and Dani Pedrosa both falling in separate incidents at the same corner, while fighting for podium finishes.

Pedrosa was seventh in Qatar after struggling with a rear tyre issue.

"I look forward to going to Argentina to resume working with my team and prepare for Sunday’s race. In Qatar we didn’t get the result we were expecting and were capable of achieving, but we know the potential is there, which gives us confidence," he said.

"In Argentina we’ll keep working with this positive attitude.

"The track conditions at Termas may be challenging at the start of the weekend but they’ll be the same for everyone, and they usually improve over the weekend. We’ll work on our bike to be ready for whatever conditions we have for the race, and then we’ll give 100 per cent when the lights go off.”