F is for Fan Zone Friday: MotoGP fans meet the riders in Argentina
As we wait for action to begin on track, there was plenty happening off-track ahead of super Saturday
2 April 2022: There may have been schedule changes at the Gran Premio Michelin de la Republica Argentina, but there was no stopping the off-track action on Friday. One of the headline acts was the Fan Zone, located just down from the paddock, with the stage there welcoming the majority of the MotoGP grid to greet the crowd… and was there a crowd!
The action began with an acrobatic air show before the first riders headed for the stage, with Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) and Stefan Bradl (Repsol Honda Team) up first. Championship leader Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP) was then joined on stage by rookie teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio before fans headed for the pit lane walk.
In the afternoon, 2021 Champion Fabio Quartararo and Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP teammate Franco Morbidelli got the action rolling again, followed by Ducati Lenovo Team’s Jack Miller and Pecco Bagnaia. 2020 Champion Joan Mir and Team Suzuki Ecstar teammate Alex Rins headed out at 14:30, before Tech3 duo Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez, and Pramac’s Johann Zarco and Jorge Martin.
The star-studded party continued with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira, before impressive Moto3™ rookie Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) repped for South America and headed out to say hi to the legions of Brazilian fans who’ve crossed the border to come to Termas. Factory Aprilia duo Maverick Viñales and Aleix Espargaro were next up, before Mooney VR46 Racing Team’s Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi closed the show in style – on stage at least, with more aero fun and another free style show keeping fans entertained afterwards, too.
Riders get to swing in with a round of golf…
A veritable gaggle of riders headed for Termas de Rio Hondo golf club for a round on Friday, joined by Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta. Reigning Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) headed out, with marked improvements made to his game since his last high profile shot at it in Assen, along with Championship leader Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), his teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio, Pecco Bagnaia, his Ducati Lenovo teammate Jack Miller, Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP), Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) and Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing). Who won? We’re not actually sure, but Sam Lowes would be the betting person’s guess…
