Mir has taken victory in the Gran Premio Motul de la Republica Argentina for his second race win in a row, staging a stunning comeback from P16 to survive a last lap attack from British Talent Team rider John McPhee – with Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) completing the podium as the three rostrum finishers in Qatar proved a cut above in another classic Moto3™ battle.
It was Martin who took the lead off the line from polesitter McPhee, as the two men capitalized the best on their grid positions and Nicolo Bulega (Sky Racing Team VR46) got a little bogged down off the line. Romano Fenati (Marinelli Rivacold Snipers) was a big loser as the lights went out, then making contact with compatriot Niccolo Antonelli on the fight back – with the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider retiring as a result and Fenati left with a mountain to climb.
Already climbing his own mountain was Mir, as the Leopard rider made serious progress up from his P16 starting position to get into the front group. That group soon settled into the classic Moto3™ freight train, with lead positions changing between Martin and teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio, McPhee, Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0), Philipp Oettl (Südmetall Schedl GP Racing) and Bulega – as Qatar GP winner Mir arrived on the scene.
As the pack shuffled, the lead group of five began to pull away, with Mir leading McPhee, Martin, Oettl and Andrea Migno (Sky Racing Team VR46); soon clear at the front and ready for a final showdown. In the end, it all came down to Turns 13 and 14 on the final lap, as Mir tried to create a gap and was reeled in once again by McPhee – with the Brit just unable to find his way past in the final corners. Martin completed the podium after proving just a little too far back for a final attack, with Oettl beating Migno to P4.
Livio Loi (Leopard Racing), a comeback from Fenati, an incredible ride from Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and a solid result for Juanfran Guevara (RBA BOE Racing) fought it out to take P6 to P9 respectively, ahead of a stunner from rookie and former Asia Talent Cup Champion Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia) to complete the top ten.
Canet, Darryn Binder (Platinum Bay Real Estate), Marcos Ramirez (Platinum Bay Real Estate) and second SIC58 Squadra Corse rider Tony Arbolino completed the top fourteen, with a fantastic double points finish for the new SIC58 Squadra Corse squad run by Paolo Simoncelli. Bulega was penalized post-race and dropped out the points – leaving Maria Herrera (AGR Team) taking her first point of the season in P15.
Home hero Gabriel Rodrigo (RBA BOE Racing) put in a stunning effort to fight in the lead group before a crash, coming back from a collarbone break in FP1 in Qatar. Also falling out of contention soon after were Di Giannantonio – tagged by Bulega – and 2016 Championship runner up Enea Bastianini (Estrella Galicia 0,0), both riders ok and ‘Bestia’ able to pick it up and continue.
Next up is Texas and the Circuit of the Americas in two weeks – with the top of the title standings as you were and Mir staking a serious early claim on the crown.
GRAN PREMIO MOTUL DE LA REPÚBLICA ARGENTINA
Moto3 Race Classification 2017
| Pos. | Points | Num. | Rider | Nation | Team | Bike | Km/h | Time/Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 | 36 | Joan MIR | SPA | Leopard Racing | Honda | 157.0 | 38’33.377 |
| 2 | 20 | 17 | John MCPHEE | GBR | British Talent Team | Honda | 157.0 | +0.261 |
| 3 | 16 | 88 | Jorge MARTIN | SPA | Del Conca Gresini Moto3 | Honda | 157.0 | +0.339 |
| 4 | 13 | 65 | Philipp OETTL | GER | Südmetall Schedl GP Racing | KTM | 157.0 | +0.641 |
| 5 | 11 | 16 | Andrea MIGNO | ITA | SKY Racing Team VR46 | KTM | 156.9 | +0.890 |
| 6 | 10 | 11 | Livio LOI | BEL | Leopard Racing | Honda | 156.5 | +7.598 |
| 7 | 9 | 5 | Romano FENATI | ITA | Marinelli Rivacold Snipers | Honda | 156.5 | +7.761 |
| 8 | 8 | 24 | Tatsuki SUZUKI | JPN | SIC58 Squadra Corse | Honda | 156.5 | +7.831 |
| 9 | 7 | 58 | Juanfran GUEVARA | SPA | RBA BOE Racing Team | KTM | 156.2 | +12.000 |
| 10 | 6 | 27 | Kaito TOBA | JPN | Honda Team Asia | Honda | 156.2 | +12.079 |
| 11 | 5 | 44 | Aron CANET | SPA | Estrella Galicia 0,0 | Honda | 156.2 | +12.278 |
| 12 | 4 | 40 | Darryn BINDER | RSA | Platinum Bay Real Estate | KTM | 156.2 | +12.294 |
| 13 | 3 | 42 | Marcos RAMIREZ | SPA | Platinum Bay Real Estate | KTM | 156.2 | +12.480 |
| 14 | 2 | 14 | Tony ARBOLINO | ITA | SIC58 Squadra Corse | Honda | 156.2 | +12.620 |
| 15 | 1 | 6 | Maria HERRERA | SPA | AGR Team | KTM | 156.1 | +13.083 |
| 16 | 8 | Nicolo BULEGA | ITA | SKY Racing Team VR46 | KTM | 156.2 | +14.393 | |
| 17 | 7 | Adam NORRODIN | MAL | SIC Racing Team | Honda | 155.7 | +18.861 | |
| 18 | 84 | Jakub KORNFEIL | CZE | Peugeot MC Saxoprint | Peugeot | 155.6 | +20.573 | |
| 19 | 12 | Marco BEZZECCHI | ITA | CIP | Mahindra | 155.2 | +26.774 | |
| 20 | 71 | Ayumu SASAKI | JPN | SIC Racing Team | Honda | 155.2 | +26.905 | |
| 21 | 96 | Manuel PAGLIANI | ITA | CIP | Mahindra | 155.2 | +27.400 | |
| 22 | 95 | Jules DANILO | FRA | Marinelli Rivacold Snipers | Honda | 155.2 | +27.534 | |
| 23 | 64 | Bo BENDSNEYDER | NED | Red Bull KTM Ajo | KTM | 155.2 | +27.612 | |
| 24 | 41 | Nakarin ATIRATPHUVAPAT | THA | Honda Team Asia | Honda | 154.7 | +35.218 | |
| 25 | 75 | Albert ARENAS | SPA | Aspar Mahindra Moto3 | Mahindra | 153.7 | +50.124 | |
| 26 | 4 | Patrik PULKKINEN | FIN | Peugeot MC Saxoprint | Peugeot | 151.9 | +1’18.379 | |
| 27 | 33 | Enea BASTIANINI | ITA | Estrella Galicia 0,0 | Honda | 151.8 | +1’20.064 | |
| Not Classified | ||||||||
| 21 | Fabio DI GIANNANTONIO | ITA | Del Conca Gresini Moto3 | Honda | 156.7 | 9 Laps | ||
| 48 | Lorenzo DALLA PORTA | ITA | Aspar Mahindra Moto3 | Mahindra | 154.4 | 9 Laps | ||
| 19 | Gabriel RODRIGO | ARG | RBA BOE Racing Team | KTM | 156.6 | 10 Laps | ||
| 23 | Niccolò ANTONELLI | ITA | Red Bull KTM Ajo | KTM | 152.3 | 20 Laps | ||
Credits : Photos and content courtesy of motogp.com
Check Out Our Instagram Feed
Check Out Our Facebook Feed
Coming up. The new Volvo ES 90 #VCM #VolvoMalaysia #motorBugs #VolvoCarsMalaysia
Malaysian motorcycling history was made as 850 Royal Enfield motorcycles came together for the largest Royal Enfield gathering in Malaysia to date, officially recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records. ![]()
![]()
The record-setting event took place at the iconic Sepang International Circuit, where riders![]()
from every state in Peninsular Malaysia converged in a powerful show of unity, passion, and![]()
camaraderie. The sight of hundreds of Royal Enfield motorcycles filling the circuit was a sight![]()
to behold, marking a defining moment for the local riding community.![]()
Organised by Didi Group, the gathering featured motorcycles from every Royal Enfield model![]()
line-up, spanning classics such as the Bullet and Classic 350 to the Interceptor 650, Continental![]()
GT, Himalayan, and Super Meteor 650. Many riders travelled long distances to be part of the![]()
historic occasion.![]()
The milestone was achieved through a Parade Ride and mass gathering, giving riders the![]()
opportunity to celebrate not just a record, but the shared spirit and brotherhood that defines![]()
the Royal Enfield community in Malaysia. ![]()
![]()
@royalenfieldpj @royalenfieldmy
Season 8 of the Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia Vios Challenge drew to a close with the crowning of three new overall champions amidst the backdrop of an intense and fiercely-fought two days of racing at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit. ![]()
![]()
@tgrmalaysia
BMW Group Malaysia & Universiti Malaya: Giving EV Batteries a Second Life for Rural and Community Electrification![]()
![]()
BMW Group Malaysia, in collaboration with Universiti Malaya, is taking a meaningful step toward sustainable innovation by exploring the second-life use of electric vehicle (EV) batteries to support rural and community electrification. This initiative focuses on repurposing EV batteries that are no longer used in vehicles but still retain significant energy storage capacity. ![]()
![]()
#bmw #um @bmwmalaysia @university_malaya
