Niccolo Antonelli and Bo Bendsneyder will be back onboard their KTM bikes this weekend at the Argentinian Termas de Rio Hondo track, a fortnight on from the season opener in Qatar. This will be the fourth time the series has visited the 4.8km South American circuit, and in the three previous editions the Red Bull KTM Ajo team have held a monopoly on the Moto3 pole position. Jack Miller, Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder have all headed the grid in the lower cylinder class in that time. In addition, on two occasions -2014 and 2016- the team have occupied a place on the podium. A tenth place finisher at last season’s round in Argentina, Niccolo Antonelli aims to take a further step forward with his adaptation to the KTM, and after fighting in the top group in Qatar he aspires to a podium finish this weekend. For Bendsneyder, this will be an opportunity to put the first race of the year –in which he was fast in practice but experienced disappointment on raceday– behind him. Last year, on his first visit to Termas de Rio Hondo, he placed 22nd. The Moto3 race will take place on Sunday at 1pm local time. The probability of rainfall over the weekend is high.
Circuit information – Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo
Length: 4.806 m / 2.986 miles
Width: 16 metres
Left corners: 5
Right corners: 9
Longest straight: 1.076 m / 0.669 miles
Constructed: 2008
Modified: 2012
Schedule Moto3 (European time) ( Circuit time GMT -3)
Friday April 7th
Moto3 FP1 : 14:00 – 14:40
Moto3 FP2 : 18:10 – 18:50
Saturday April 8th
Moto3 FP3 : 14:00 – 14:40
Moto3 QP : 17:35 – 18:15
Sunday April 9th
Moto3 WUP : 14:40 – 15:00
Moto3 RACE : 18:00
23 NICCOLO ANTONELLI
“The Termas de Rio Hondo circuit in Argentina is one that I really like. I can’t wait to get there and start riding this weekend. As I am riding with a new bike, the KTM, I will likely have to change something with my riding style for this track. I’m sure it will not be a problem because with every day that goes by I feel more comfortable and faster. It’s a track that has a good grip level and I’m sure if we work like we did at the first GP, we can take another step forward.”
64 BO BENDSNEYDER
“Despite the disappointment of the result of the first race, we remain optimistic, because the work throughout the weekend was very good. We were strong, so we just have to forget about the race. In Argentina we have to continue this good line of work we have, and if we do that I think we can be in the top positions. This will be the second occasion that I ride at Termas de Rio Hondo and although last year we weren’t lucky with the weather, it is a track that I like. We’ll see what happens this weekend, and I hope everything works out well for us!”
Source: motogp.com, ajo.fi
