After the 2018 season’s opening round, which saw a splendid victory for Andrea Dovizioso in Qatar, the Ducati Team is now getting ready to tackle the next race in this year’s MotoGP World Championship. The Argentina GP will take place from 6 to 8 August at the Termas de Río Hondo circuit in the northern part of the country, approximately one hour by plane from the capital Buenos Aires.
The Argentina GP has now arrived at its fourteenth edition, and the fifth at this circuit. Andrea Dovizioso scored his best result here in 2015, when he finished the race in second place, while last year he was forced to retire following a crash caused by a collision with another rider’s bike.
Jorge Lorenzo stepped onto the podium in 2014, finishing the race in third place, while last year the Spanish rider crashed at the first corner and had to retire.
The Termas de Río Hondo weekend will get underway on Friday morning with the first free practice session at 10.55 (15.55 CET), while the 25-lap race is scheduled for Sunday at 15.00 local time (20.00 CET).
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team #04) – 1st (25 points)
“This circuit is rather unusual, in that the conditions change a lot between Friday, when the track surface is usually very dirty, and Sunday, when the asphalt has improved considerably. Last year at Termas we struggled a lot, but the Desmosedici GP has improved a lot since then and after the win in Qatar we are very excited, so our aim now is to get a good result also in Argentina!”
Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team #99) – no points
“After the disappointment of Qatar, as well as trying to understand the causes of the problem so it doesn’t happen again, for us the important thing is to continue to work as hard as ever, because I think we are close to finding a more suitable setting for my riding style. I’m working with my usual commitment and I’m sure that we are going to get good results soon, even in Argentina, because I don’t believe there are favourable or unfavourable tracks, and when I arrive at a circuit I always think I can fight for the win. Everything is possible in MotoGP: the championship is still very long and we have to think positively.”
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 Termas was modernized, and it 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: Barbera (Ducati), 334.4 km/h – 2017
Track Length: 4.8 km
Race Distance: 25 laps (120.2 km)
Curves: 14 (5 left, 9 right)
Race Start: 15.00 local time (20.00 CET)
2017 Results
Podium: 1st Viñales (Yamaha), 2nd Rossi (Yamaha), 3rd Crutchlow (Honda)
Pole Position: Marquez (Honda), 1’47.512 (160.927 km/h)
Fastest Lap: Viñales (Yamaha), 1’39.694 (173.547 km/h)
Andrea Dovizioso
Bike: Ducati Desmosedici GP
Race Number: 04
Age: 32 (born on 23rd March in Forlimpopoli, Italy)
Residence: Forlì (Italy)
Races: 277 (179 x MotoGP, 49 x 250cc, 49 x 125cc)
First GP: 2001 Italian GP (125cc)
Wins: 18 (9 x MotoGP, 4 x 250cc, 5 x 125cc)
First Win: 2004 South African GP (125cc)
Poles: 18 (5 x MotoGP, 4 x 250cc, 9 x 125cc)
First Pole: 2003 French GP (125cc)
World Titles: 1 (1 x 125cc)
Jorge Lorenzo
Bike: Ducati Desmosedici GP
Race Number: 99
Age: 30 (born on 4th May 1987 in Palma di Mallorca, Spain)
Residence: Lugano (Switzerland)
Races: 269 (175 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)
Poles: 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)
