#ARGENTINAGP: ANOTHER PODIUM FOR MARTIN AS DI GIANNANTONIO IS FORCED TO RETIRE
Team Del Conca Gresini Honda’s Jorge Martin and Fabio Di Giannantonio have played a big part in today’s second race of the Moto3 World Championship at Termas de Rio Hondo in Argentina, although there very different outcomes for the two riders. While Martin scored his second podium of the year – another third place behind Mir and McPhee – Fabio di Giannantonio was forced to an early retirement after a coming together with an opponent.
Starting from the front row of the grid on board his NSF250RW machine, Martin showed once again all talent as he led the race in the early laps and stayed in contention for the win up to the last turn. The young Spaniard made some incredible moves towards the end of the encounter, when the battle for honours was down to five contenders. Courtesy of his second rostrum finish of the season, Martin consolidates his third place in the standings.
There were opposite feelings on the other side of the pit-box, as Fabio Di Giannantonio was on the receiving end of a collision with fellow Italian Niccolò Bulega with nine laps to go, while he was running in sixth: the young Italian ended up in the gravel trap and, despite all efforts to remount his damaged Honda machine and try to re-join the race, he was forced to retire moments afterwards.
Team manager Fausto Gresini was obviously unhappy with how Di Giannantonio’s race was cut short: “I really hope these incidents will stop, I really don’t like the behaviour of this rider towards Fabio. He tried a similar move during practice and then he did the same in the race, with more success. I’m hopeful that this will desist soon.”
3º – JORGE MARTIN #88
“We did a great job during the weekend, because we knew we were a little bit behind in the beginning. We were struggling a bit under braking whereas Mir and McPhee were very strong, so third place was realistically our best possible result. We are very close to have everything it takes to win, but for now we take these precious 16 points home: with all these races and so many podium contenders, consistency is the key.”
DNF – FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #21
“We were doing well and I felt quite strong, but unfortunately another rider decided to spoil our race. We were quite far from the leading group but still had the pace to bridge the gap. We need to stay focused and motivated, even with today’s DNF. There’s still time and a lot of races to make up for it.”
