- Top 11 for GASGAS in their second ever MotoGP Grand Prix and first appearance on South American soil in the series
- Fernandez shows maturity and fast development once more to fight on the fringe of the top ten after starting from 17th position on the grid
- The reigning Moto2 world champion is the sole runner for the team and the brand in Argentina as Pol Espargaro continues his recovery from the crash in Portugal nine days ago
- Jake Dixon makes the podium breakthrough in Moto2™ with 3rd place as Ryusei Yamanaka charges to the top ten in Moto3™
Stormy conditions around Termas de Rio Hondo made for a rainy and grim race day. The second round of 21 in 2023 MotoGP represented the eighth visit by the series to the fast and flowing layout in northern Argentina and the teams and riders negotiated the second ever MotoGP Sprint on Saturday before starting to think about the 25-laps that would run on Sunday.
Fernandez made decent progress during the weekend and had his first taste of MotoGP class action in tricky mixed conditions as well as dealing with the low grip nature of the track. The GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 team worked up to the Grand Prix chase on Sunday afternoon and Fernandez made a positive start from the sixth row. He then gained positions and fought off far more experienced racers. 11th place meant 5 points, his personal best and a time less than 20 seconds from the winner.
After two action-packed weekends in Portugal and Argentina, the GASGAS crew can now breathe and get back to Europe for a few days before flying across the Atlantic again to COTA in Texas for the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas.
Augusto Fernandez, 19th: “I’m happy. It was a fun race and I had some good battles in the group. Step-by-step I was getting into my pace, making good laps and moving forwards. I enjoyed myself and it was a good experience to have that first wet race in MotoGP. Happy!”
Nicolas Goyon, GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 Team Manager: “Another strong race from our super-rookie who managed to score points in his first MotoGP race in fully wet conditions. It was a great result and he was less than twenty seconds from the leader, which is a decent accomplishment. His learning process is still ongoing and in just two races he has encountered a lot of conditions and challenges that will make him an even better rider in the future. Congratulations to him. He improved session after session and was fighting with MotoGP winners and world champions. He was not far away. So, let’s keep working like this.”
Results MotoGPGran Premio Michelin de la Republica Argentina
1. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Ducati 44:28.518
2. Johann Zarco (FRA) Ducati +4.085
3. Alex Marquez (ESP) Ducati +4.681
11. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 +19.380
World Championship standings MotoGP
1. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Ducati, 50 points
2. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati, 41
3. Johann Zarco (FRA) Ducati, 35
14. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3, 8
Moto3 and Moto2
The first race on the schedule at Termas de Rio Hondo allowed David Alonso and Ryusei Yamanaka their second bite of Moto3 business with the GASGAS Aspar Racing squad. The Spaniard and the Japanese are new to the roster for 2023 and with promising signs from Portugal last weekend aimed to slide into the leading group from the off in Argentina.
Alonso was eager but the soaking wet conditions meant a cautious approach through the 19 laps. David found regular lap-times that put him in contention for the top ten but it was Yamanaka who powered through from outside the top twenty, eventually reaching 9th and improving on his result from Portugal. Alonso crossed the checkered flag in 14th to grasp his first points for GASGAS.
Ryusei Yamanaka: “Very wet conditions and I couldn’t find much confidence at the beginning but lap-by-lap I took more feeling and pushed a bit more. I caught the front group and was able to finish in the top ten, which was positive. This weekend we struggled a bit but the final result was decent and we need to work more for the next race in the USA. I still haven’t shown my potential.”
David Alonso: “Argentina over! It was a wet race and it was important to finish and I’m content to get my first championship points. I made a good start but I didn’t really have the feeling to follow the leaders in the wet. I wanted a top ten and tried to push more with the riders I was with but didn’t quite have the confidence. We learned about our wet base setting this weekend and I knew it was crucial just to make the flag.”
Jake Dixon was one of the stars of the Moto2 class once more. He launched away from the top of the second row of the grid after missing out on Pole Position on Saturday by just two tenths of a second. The slot was still good enough for the Briton – who became a new father on Saturday evening - to probe for possibilities with the leaders. Jake led the running on the first lap and then rode carefully in the fight for the podium. He was less than two seconds behind winner Tony Arbolino for his first podium finish of the season and enough points to ride to 4th in the championship. Jordi Torres admirably filled in for the absent Izan Guevara – who is making gains after a wrist injury – and the Spaniard crossed the line with 16th place, just missing his first GP points.
Jake Dixon: “The last 24 hours have been a blur! I’ve been ill, I want to say how much I love my wife and new daughter and then that was a difficult race! I struggled to see 8 laps from the end and had to lift up my visor in places. I want to thank the team: to come away with a podium here, and have a 6th and 3rd to start the season is pretty good.”
Gran Premio Michelin de la Republica Argentina photographs can be found HERE
Results Moto3 Gran Premio Michelin de la Republica Argentina
1. Tatsuki Suzuki (JPN) Honda 35:18.099
2. Diogo Moreira (BRA) KTM +4.571
3. Andrea Migno (ITA) KTM +4.699
9. Ryusei Yamanaka (JPN) GASGAS Aspar Team +12.844
14. David Alonso (ESP) GASGAS Aspar Team +27.524
World Championship standings Moto3
1. Daniel Holgado (ESP) KTM, 38 points
2. Diogo Moreira (BRA) KTM, 36
3. Tatsuki Suzuki (JPN) Honda, 27
14. Ryusei Yamanaka (JPN) GASGAS Aspar Team, 7
21. David Alonso (ESP) GASGAS Aspar Team, 2
Results Moto2 Gran Premio Michelin de la Republica Argentina
1. Tony Arbolino (ITA) 26:.26.606
2. Alonso Lopez (ESP) +0.663
3. Jake Dixon (GBR) GASGAS Aspar Team +1.961
16. Jordi Torres (ESP) GASGAS Aspar Team +31.901
World Championship standings Moto2
1. Tony Arbolino (ITA), 41 points
2. Aron Canet (ESP), 33
3. Pedro Acosta (ESP), 29
4. Jake Dixon (GBR) GASGAS Aspar Team, 26
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