two weeks ago, and Ai Ogura
fended off Aron Canet (Flex-
box HP40) on the final lap to
finish third. Polesitter Fermin
Aldeguer (MB Conveyors
Speed Up) crashed out after
contact with Vietti at Turn 13.
As for the American con-
tingent, Cameron Beaubier
(American Racing Team) made
it home in 11th, Joe Roberts
(Italtrans Racing) in 13th, while
Beaubier's teammate Sean
Dylan Kelly was out after lap
two following a collision with
another rider.
some small mistakes, but it
was fun today. The team did
a race against time for get-
ting ready in just a few hours.
Compared to last year, I am
able to understand the bike
better, where to work and what
changes to make. I'm happy
with the points in the cham-
pionship and with the leader-
ship. We don't have to think
too much about it, just take full
advantage of all possible op-
portunities."
Idemitsu Honda Team Asia
celebrated a double podium
as Somkiat Chantra finished
a close second, adding to his
Indonesian GP victory from
ROUND 3 / APRIL 1-3, 2022
TERMAS DE RIO HONDO / ARGENTINA
P60
MOTOGP I FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ESPARGARO ON SONG
Aleix Espargaro claimed Aprilia's first
premier-class pole position since Oc-
tober 2000 on Saturday on the back of
showing the strongest rhythm through-
out FP2. He was, in the words of
Fabio Quartararo, the "clear favorite."
The RS-GP was working beautifully
around the bumpy, dusty Termas de
Rio Hondo layout. "Especially with the
hard front tire, I felt extremely good,"
said Espargaro, the first man in the
four-stroke MotoGP era to score pole
positions with three different manufac-
turers. I can brake late and make very
high corner speed. It works well. It's
a special GP because just one day of
practice, [but] the race pace is quite
strong."
Briefly...
Former champ Joan Mir
made it a Suzuki 3-4.
