Argentina signs three-year MotoGP race deal

Dorna Sports Championship organiser has confirmed that Termas de Rio Hondo circuit in Argentina would host a round of the MotoGP series for three years, starting 2014.

The agreement, which was earlier considered for at least a year, and was formally signed during a test session at the new circuit this week. Enrique Meyer, Argentina’s national tourism minister attended the event to sign a three-year contract with the managing director of Dorna, Javier Alonso.

Next year’s event, which would feature all three Grand Prix classes, will also be the first MotoGp race in Argentina since 1999.

Meyer said: “It is a great honour to receive this championship in Argentina in addition to other sporting events that take place in our country such as the Dakar Rally. We hope that the Argentine public can enjoy the top class of motorcycle racing, which hasn’t come to our country since 1999, and we will do our best to make sure MotoGP stays in our country for a long time.”

He added of the new facility: “We are getting very good reviews from the riders in relation to the circuit, due to the high speed corners in which competitors test their abilities. We are excited to host this event [the test], which serves as preparation for the Grand Prix in 2014.”

Britain’s Cal Crutchlow and Germany’s Stefan Bradl have spent the week testing at the circuit, which lies 1,1ookm north-west of Buenos Aires. The dates for the first race next year haven’t been confirmed.