Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) will be aiming to repeat his 2018 Argentina GP heroics in 2019 as the paddock returns to Termas de Rio Hondo this weekend for Round 2 of the World Championship.
After an off-season that was blighted by his horrific ankle injury suffered in Australia towards the end of 2018, Crutchlow returned with a bang in Qatar to earn himself a 17th MotoGP™ podium. And now, the Gran Premio Motul de la Republica Argentina awaits the British rider – the scene of his latest premier class triumph.
His terrific win in tricky conditions from tenth on the grid last season was his third Termas de Rio Hondo podium in the five visits to the venue, the others coming in the form of third places in 2015 and 2017. And with those results being the only podiums Crutchlow achieved in those respective years, it’s clear the Isle of Man resident gets on well with the Termas tarmac.
His famous “don’t doubt me” statement in parc ferme after winning last season is more relevant than ever after claiming third in Qatar. All doubt whether the 33-year-old would be able to fight for podiums in the opening races this season after his injury has gone out the window. And if you hark back to this time last year, Crutchlow left Argentina as the first British rider to lead the premier class Championship since Barry Sheene after the first race of 1979. Not many - including Crutchlow - would have thought that was a possibility a couple of months ago this year.
And there won’t be many – if any – people doubting the gritty Briton’s chances of a top result in Argentina this weekend now too. But is win number four, or podium number 18, around the corner? We’ll find out soon enough…