MotoGP organisers Dorna announced on Wednesday that Argentina will remain on the calendar until at least the end of 2025, a three-year extension on the nation’s current deal.
The Argentine Grand Prix-staged at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit in the Santiago del Estero province- hasn’t been run since 2019 primarily as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, though a possible rescheduling at the end of this year failed to go ahead due to a severe fire that wiped out a significant portion of the track’s facilities back in February.
The venue is set to be ready for MotoGP’s already-confirmed return to the country in April of 2022, though the races organisers have taken the next step by putting pen-to-paper on a new deal that will see the Argentine GP continue until 2025 at the minimum.
Orlando Terranova-CEO of Argentine GP organisers OSD-says the group is “very satisfied” to keep the event on the MotoGP schedule following its recent struggles, the Dakar racer adding that OSD is keen to “redouble our efforts” in creating “an amazing experience” for when fans return to the circuit for the first race in three years next season.
“We’re very satisfied and happy to renew our agreement with Dorna Sports to continue organising the Grand Prix of Argentina, which we’ve done since 2014,” said Terranova.
“MotoGP is an event that allows us to take our place on the world stage, show our strengths and be a point of reference in global elite sport.
“We celebrate all this and redouble our efforts so that each new edition is even better than ever before, creating an amazing experience for the fans who attend.
“Termas de Rio Hondo will receive us looking better than ever, the circuit will be perfect and even more improved.
“We continue moving forward in order to remain a point of reference in this part of the world.”
Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta reckoned the news of Argentina’s continuation as part of the MotoGP calendar is “fantastic”, the Spaniard labelling the event “vital” for the series’ presence in South America.
“The three-year contract renewal for the Grand Prix of Argentina is fantastic news for MotoGP, showing once again the incredible level of interest in our sport across the territory,” said Ezpeleta.
“The impressive crowds who flock to the event, and from many different countries, added to the great feedback from the riders, proves how vital our presence in Argentina and Latin America truly is.”
The Argentine GP returned to the MotoGP calendar in 2014 following a 15-year absence, with Honda pilot Marc Marquez the most successful rider in the event with three wins across the six encounters held in the years since its resurrection.
Honda also holds the most wins at Termas de Rio Hondo with four, Cal Crutchlow’s 2018 success joining Marquez’s trio, while Yamaha is the only other manufacturer to have triumphed at the circuit with Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales winning the ’15 and ’17 editions of the contest respectively.
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