Ducati Team heads to Argentina for next MotoGP round. Crutchlow, still convalescent after Austin crash, to be replaced by Pirro

After Andrea Dovizioso’s third place in Texas, the Ducati Team returns to the American continent this weekend for the third round of the 2014 MotoGP season. This time however, the destination will be the southern hemisphere, more precisely in Argentina at the Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo.

Dovizioso, who scored the 84th podium in the world championship for the Italian manufacturer, will be tackling the overseas race with renewed optimism, convinced that the work the whole team is carrying out is going in the right direction.

Unfortunately Cal Crutchlow will not be present in Argentina. After the crash in the race at Austin, the Ducati Team rider had initially been diagnosed with a dislocated right little finger, but further checks at a specialized centre in San Diego (USA) revealed that the British rider had also suffered a tiny fracture of the finger and as a result it was decided that he should undergo a small operation to insert a stabilizing pin. Crutchlow, who already knows the Termas de Rio Hondo track after taking part in two days of testing last year, hoped to recover in time for the Argentinean race but unfortunately continuing intense pain in his right hand, which prevents him from using the front brake correctly, has forced him to abandon. He will now return to England to continue treatment and try and get ready for the Jerez race.

Crutchlow will be replaced in Argentina by Italian Michele Pirro, the test-rider for the Ducati Team.

It will be the tenth time the world championship races in Argentina (the last time was in 1999 with the win going to Kenny Roberts Jr.), and after the Oscar Galvez circuit in Buenos Aires, Termas de Rio Hondo becomes the second track in the South American country to host a round of the championship.

Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team #04)
“The result in Texas was fantastic both for me and for all the team. It was a really hard race, very tiring, and this third place gave me a special satisfaction. When you are able to obtain these results, which almost seem impossible, it is truly a great feeling. We are working really hard and we are always trying to get the best out of our bike. Now we are going to Termas in Argentina, which is a new circuit for almost all the riders. I have no idea what to expect, but I always like to race on new circuits and so I am curious and very motivated.”

Cal Crutchlow (Ducati Team #35)
“I am very sad to let the team down like this because I was really looking forward to racing in Argentina. On Tuesday I had some scans on my hand and we saw that my finger was still dislocated from the crash and also broken so Dr. Chao decided to put a pin in to stabilize it. Unfortunately I’m still feeling too much pain in my right hand, my knuckles are the most painful part and I’m not in condition to race this weekend. Now I’m going back to the UK to continue treatment and try and get ready for the race at Jerez.”

The Termas de Rio Hondo circuit
The circuit is located six kilometres from the spa resort town which gives the venue its name, in the Province of Santiago del Estero in the northern part of the country. It was built in a 150 hectare area and was officially inaugurated in May 2008 with a round of Argentina´s Touring Car Racing championship. In 2012, the reconditioning, enlargement and modernization of the circuit began, with the aim of turning it into Latin America’s safest, most modern and spectacular circuit. The 4.806 km track has a total of 14 corners (5 left, 9 right) and the longest straight is just over 1 km.

Fastest lap: new circuit
Circuit record: new circuit
Race length: 25 laps (120.2 km)
Race start: 2 pm local time (GMT – 3)

Andrea Dovizioso
Bike: Ducati Desmosedici GP14
Race number: 04
Age: 28 (born on 23 March 1986 in Forlimpopoli, Italy)
Residence: Forlì (Italy)
Races: 206 (108 x MotoGP, 49 x 250cc, 49 x 125cc)
First GP: 2001 Italian GP (125cc)
Wins: 10 (1 x MotoGP, 4 x 250cc, 5 x 125cc)
First win: 2004 South African GP (125cc)
Poles: 14 (1 x MotoGP, 4 x 250cc, 9 x 125cc)
First pole: 2003 French GP (125cc)
World titles: 1 (1 x 125cc)

Michele Pirro
Bike: Ducati Desmosedici GP14
Race number: 51
Age: 27 (born on 5 July 1986 in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy)
Residence: Cesena
Races: 28
First GP: 2012 Qatar