MotoGP Riders Visit Argentina Ahead of Termas de Rio Honda Test

2013 Argentina MotoGP News

The Termas de Rio Honda circuit was originally schedule to host MotoGP this season, but due to security reasons, the Argentina track was canceled.

Shortly after the cancellation, the security issues were resolved, and the FIM along with Dorna, MotoGP’s promoter, continued plans to host MotoGP at the circuit in 2014.

Part of the scheduled plans involve the first MotoGP test at the brand-new Termas de Rio Honda. These tests are set for this Thursday and Friday, but ahead of them, a few MotoGP riders gathered Tuesday afternoon in Argentina’s capital city Buenos Aires with some of the representatives that are behind bringing MotoGP to the country.

Present at the first official MotoGP trip to Argentina were Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Cal Crutchlow, GO&FUN Honda Gresini’s Alvaro Bautista, LCR Honda’s Stefan Bradl, and Avintia Blusens CRT’s Hector Barbera, along with Moto2 representatives Tito Rabat and Nico Terol.

These riders participated in a press conference was staged at Buenos Aires’ Hotel NH City. In attendance were Angel Hugo Nicolai (Vice Governor of the Province of Santiago del Estero), Leonardo Boto Alvarez (Executive Director, National Institute of Tourism) and Ignacio Sagnier (Communications Manager, Dorna Sports).

Crutchlow, who is coming off his first pole position of MotoGP at Assen, and third-place finish there, was excited about the test, talking highly about the circuit’s “banked corners.”

Cal Crutchlow (Monster Tech 3 Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP) says: “It will be great to get there and finally try it out. Then we can go back and tell the other riders what we thought of the place.

“From what we have seen, I don’t think any improvements will need to be made because it looks like a fantastic facility and circuit, so we are looking forward to going and hopefully we can have two good days riding around the track to also give them some important information.”

Also speaking was Bautista.

Alvaro Bautista (GO&FUN Honda Gresini RC213V MotoGP) says: “We will start with this official test and maybe next year have a GP here in Argentina. It will be very interesting to see the new track; the corners, the asphalt and also the (level of) safety, which will be very important.”

In May, the track moved a step closer to obtaining the maximum approval required by MotoGP governing body the FIM in order to host a championship round. As LCR Honda MotoGP’s Stefan Bradl reckons, the venue will be a true test for tires.

Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda RC213V MotoGP) says: “The layout of the circuit looks really fast. That can be really busy for the tires because we will be on the edge, accelerating really hard for a long time.

“I can see some really fast corners, so I’m looking forward to seeing it and then testing on Thursday to get as much information as possible for next year. Probably one of the most important things is that we will be able to find out how the tires will work.”

The riders will be on the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time, with a one-hour break each day.

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