The Italtrans team has something to smile about after this Argentine Grand Prix: it leads the World Championship with Mattia Pasini. The almost 33-year-old driver may be the oldest in the category, but he nonetheless remains a formidable opponent, invigorated by his first victory last year. Now with a second to his credit, he asserts himself as a title contender. His young teammate Andrea Locatelli scored the first point of his season after a tremendous comeback.
Qualified fourth, Mattia Pasini took the lead of the race after just three laps. Determined to win, he set an incredible pace at this Grand Prix and was able to resist the constant attacks of Miguel Oliveira to win with an eight-tenths lead. On arrival, the Italian exulted: “It was incredible to win today. I'm really happy because we worked well from the first practice sessions. The objective in the race was to stay focused so as not to make mistakes and we accomplished it perfectly. My feeling with the bike was excellent: I attacked from start to finish, always remaining lucid, even in my interminable duel with Oliveira. »
Now leader of the World Championship, he will have to demonstrate consistency, something he has often lacked, to hope to be ahead throughout the year: “Now it’s important to maintain this level and fight every Sunday for the podium or at least the top 5.”
His teammate Andrea Locatelli, eleven years his junior, made a very good comeback from 26th to 15th place, earning his first point of the season: “It was a good race: I didn't start well, but lap after lap I regained positions. I'm quite happy. Despite special conditions, I managed to take my first point. »
After a difficult first season in Moto2 last year, Andrea has progressed and wants this result to be the starting point of something good: “I thank the team because they really did a good job. We leave Argentina confident of being able to do well in the next Grand Prix. »
