Following an excellent second place for Andrea Dovizioso in the opening round of the season in Qatar, the Ducati Team is gearing up to tackle the second event in the MotoGP World Championship at the Termas de Río Hondo circuit in the northern part of Argentina, just over one hour’s flying time from the capital Buenos Aires.
This will be the thirteenth edition of the Argentina GP, and the fourth to be held on this new circuit. Andrea Dovizioso scored his best result here in 2015, when he finished the race in second place, but the Ducati Team’s Italian rider also battled for the podium right down to the final lap in 2016. Jorge Lorenzo however has only scored one podium finish, in 2014 when he led but ended the race in third.
The Termas de Río Hondo weekend gets underway on Friday morning with the first free practice session at 9.55 am (14.55 CET), while the 25-lap race is scheduled for Sunday at 4 pm local time (21.00 CET).
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team #04) – 2nd (20 points)
“This track is really particular: the conditions change a lot between Friday, when the track is very dirty, and Sunday, and usually we always find the best conditions in the race, because the track improves a lot after each session. In any case Termas is a good track and we have always gone well here. We will tackle the weekend in Argentina pretty excited following the good result in Qatar and after last Wednesday’s test at Jerez, which proved to be quite positive and which allowed us to get some good work done.”
Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team #99) – 11th (5 points)
“In Qatar the world championship didn’t begin the way we wanted but now we have to turn over a page and carry on, by focussing on the next race. I can’t wait for the Argentina GP weekend to begin so I can accumulate more mileage and experience on the Ducati. Even though Termas is a circuit where I have suffered a bit in the last few years, it’s a special track; last year the Ducatis went really well and I think I will be able to make another step forward. We have to remain focussed and start to work with a setting that allows us to be quick as soon as possible, because here in Argentina everything is new for me with the Ducati.”
The Termas de Río Hondo circuit
The circuit is situated just outside the spa town in the northern part of Argentina from which it takes its name. It was officially inaugurated in May 2008 with a race for touring cars. In 2012 the circuit was modernized, and Termas became one of the safest, most modern and most spectacular circuits in South America. It measures 4.8 km, and has 14 corners, with a main straight of just over one km in length.
Fastest Lap: Marquez (Honda), 1’37.683 (177.1 km/h) – 2014
Circuit Record: Rossi (Yamaha), 1’39.019 (174.7 km/h) – 2015
Best Pole: Marquez (Honda), 1’37.683 (177.1 km/h) – 2014
Top Speed: Bradl (Honda), 334.1 km/h – 2014
Race Distance: 25 laps (120.2 km)
Corners: 14 (5 left, 9 right)
Race Start: 4 pm local time (21.00 CET)
2016 Results
Podium: 1st Marquez (Honda), 2nd Rossi (Yamaha), 3rd Pedrosa (Honda)
Pole Position: Marquez (Honda), 1’39.411 (174.0 km/h)
Fastest Lap: Marquez (Honda), 1’40.243 (172.5 km/h)
Jorge Lorenzo
Bike: Ducati Desmosedici GP
Race Number: 99
Age: 29 (born on May 4th 1987 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain)
Residence: Lugano (Switzerland)
Races: 251 (157 x MotoGP, 48 x 250cc, 46 x 125cc)
First GP: 2002 Spanish GP (125cc)
Wins: 65 (44 x MotoGP, 17 x 250cc, 4 x 125cc)
First Win: 2003 Brazilian GP (125cc)
Pole Positions: 65 (39 x MotoGP, 23 x 250cc, 3 x 125cc)
First Pole: 2003 Malaysian GP (125cc)
World Titles: 5 (3 x MotoGP, 2 x 250cc)
Andrea Dovizioso
Bike: Ducati Desmosedici GP
Race Number: 04
Age: 31 (born on March 23rd 1986 in Forlimpopoli, Italy)
Residence: Forlì (Italy)
Races: 259 (161 x MotoGP, 49 x 250cc, 49 x 125cc)
First GP: 2001 Italian GP (125cc)
Wins: 11 (2 x MotoGP, 4 x 250cc, 5 x 125cc)
First Win: 2004 South African GP (125cc)
Pole Positions: 18 (5 x MotoGP, 4 x 250cc, 9 x 125cc)
First Pole: 2003 French GP (125cc)
World Titles: 1 (1 x 125cc)
