Don't Cry For Me Argentina, So They Sang After A Drama Filled MotoGP In Latin America.

Drama, if there is one word which sums up the 2016 Argentinian MotoGP this would be it. From the moment the teams unload the kit in the garages and took to the track, it was clear that this race would be no easy one.

Situated several hundred kilometers to the north of Beunos Aires, Termas de Rio Hondo is a track that see’s little use. This would explain the dusty conditions as the bikes first took to the tarmac. In the premier class, as the bikes reached top speeds of around 280 kmh down the home straight, plumes of dust and debris could be seen rooster tailing from the back of the bikes. With riders coming to “grips” with the new Michelin rubber, the track conditions seemed to unsettle riders across all classes.

Through FP1, 2 and 3 and the qualifying sessions, corner 1 was a particularly hungry one, devouring anyone who got off line and into the marbles. It’s hunger for scalps would continue until the last riders crossed the line.

Traction seemed to be be an issue for most of the riders with most running the medium front and rear options. In FP3 on Friday Pramac Ducati rider Scott Redding survived an incident where his rear tire delaminated, spinning the tire carcass into the exhaust with such force it crushed it, bent the seat structure and slapped in him the back leaving a bloody welt the size of small Caribbean nation.

Race direction put the red flag out to clear the track following the incident however as racing soon resumed and with 4 minutes to go in the session, the race was again halted in order for the stewards to review the wrecked Pramac Ducati and give the Michelin engineers a chance to inspect the tire. While the session resumed and all riders were able to get back on track with the medium rear option, the incident would spill over into main event the following day.

Race Direction would ultimately determine that the medium tire would not be used due to safety concerns and a hybrid compound reserved for such occasions would be substituted. This opened up an unscheduled Free Practice 4 at 9am Sunday, a session which would be canceled due to weather as cloud, mist and rain descended on the track.

Race direction then made the call to reduce the laps from 25 to 20 and implement a mandatory change of bikes on either lap 9,10 or 11 under Flag to Flag rules. This would ensure that not more than 11 laps would be put on the suspect rubber before a package change.

The start of the race was eventful with Rossi making a terrible start, getting the front wheel up and spinning the rear, Lorenzo on the other hand had a screamer quickly taking the hole-shot into Turn 1, claiming the lead but surrendering it to the Ducati’s as he quickly fell down the order. One the Ducati’s shot across the track, nearly cleaning up Pedrosa and slowing him down pushing him into a seemingly uncompetitive 8th

As the race unfolded Jack Miller who had charged through the pack, fell and his race was over. Crutchlow and A. Espargaro on the Suzuki both lost the front end and crashed in identical fashion but both managed to resume the race. Crutchlow would work his way back from last to 8th before losing the bike on a painted strip on the last lap.

Redding whose pace had been incredible all week would fall to mechanical failure. The highest profile scalp taken by turn 1 was Lorenzo who crashed out. Maverick Vinalles on the 25 Suzuki seemed destined for a podium before he too lost the rear end and skidded off the track ending his campaign for a first podium.

These crashes left Marquez in front and after a near perfect bike exchange raced to the front opening up a 4+ second gap on Rossi who failed to regain the pace of his first bike and seemed to suffer from a lack of temperature in the tires and brakes in the first few laps on the second bike.

Up front Rossi was under the pump from the Ducati riders of Inanonne and Dovisioso who gave no quarter and jostled for position taking second from Rossi on several occasions, however the fighter he is, Rossi stayed in the hunt and the 2nd and 3rd place changed several times into the last lap.

If the race could not get any more dramatic, it did, when Inanonne (the Maniac, a nickname I am sure he will be regretting right about now) dived up the inside of team mate Dovisioso in a high risk maneuver to claim 2nd. Unfortunately for both riders, Ianonne ran wide and knocked himself and Dovi out of the race, leaving Rossi with a second step podium and a bewildered Pedrossa who was out of contention for all but a points finish, with the third step.

There will be much reflection on today's race, Lorenzo seemed out of sorts with his package all weekend, the Ducati's team dinner is sure to have been cancelled, with Ianonne opting for some room service and self reflection, while a victory celebration for the Irishman Eugene Laverty is in order. He scored his best ever finish for 4th place on the Aspar Ducati as the first non factory rider over the line.

The MotoGP circus moves to Austin this weekend in the next of the back to back away races. This will be the only race in the USA and the anticipation of an amazing spectacle is high and where too much MotoGP racing is barely enough.

UPDATE: Ianonne has been sanctioned 1 point and 3 grid positions at the AustinGP for his reckless pass attempt which took both factory Ducati's off certain podium finishes.