The Gran Premio Michelin de la República Argentina was a race against time and logistics as much as it was a buzzing, crazy Moto3™ contest for the latest episode of 2022 MotoGP™ but CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP left the atmospheric Termas de Rio Hondo circuit with more world championship points.
Here are the main news points from MotoGP’s first visit to Argentina since 2019:
- Carlos Tatay takes 8th place, just 2 seconds from the win in his first visit to Termas
- Xavi Artigas fights for the top five but fails to last the distance
- CFMOTO continue to mark Moto3 in their debut season
- Freight and transportation delays cause a two-day race programme
- CFMOTO race for the first time in front of loud and passionate Argentine fans
From one continent to another: CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP left the Indonesian Grand Prix with a first podium and pole position to contest the third round of the MotoGP™ season in South America.
Despite the rush, the Grand Prix squads could at least count on a more stable climate compared to the last outing at Mandalika. The weather stayed bright and dry around the Termas de Rio Hondo facility: a fast track almost 5km in length and featuring 14 corners, with 9 of those bends working the right side of the tyres.
After a mixed qualifying on Saturday with P07 for Xavier Artigas and P18 for Carlos Tatay, a rocket start for Xavier Artigas followed in race today. After just a few laps, Artigas found himself in 3rd place, but had to end his attractive tango dance in lap 6 due to technical problems. Team colleague Carlos Tatay, who started from 18th place, was also able to get into the race quickly and impressively fought his way up to 8th place.
In the championship standings Tatay sits in 7th while Artigas is 12th. CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP are 3rd in the teams’ listing.
MotoGP™ now pauses briefly. The show will transfer to the United States this week where the sprawling and technically difficult Circuit of the Americas will stage the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas for round four.
#99 Carlos Tatay | P08
“This weekend was a bit difficult for us for finding the right set-up. It was a new track for me and tricky to find the way. Starting 18th was not the best but I pushed as hard as I could and did my best. We know our strong and weak points and I really thought I could have fought for the podium but I made some mistakes that put me out of the battle. We need to keep going, keep learning and improve.”
#43 Xavier Artigas | DNF
“Such a shame that we had a technical problem and we could not finish. I felt really good and was pushing to stay in the top five. It was bad luck but I want to thank the team for all their work here. We only have a few days to wait until we can go again.”
Results
1. Sergio Garcia, ESP, GASGAS 38:23.433
2. Dennis Foggia, ITA, Honda +0.146
3. Ayumu Sasaki, JPN, Husqvarna +0.375
8. Carlos Tatay, ESP, CFMOTO +2.032
DNF. Xavier Artigas, ESP, CFMOTO
