Booth-Amos: Nothing stupid, just picked them off

Tom Booth-Amos’ strategy paid off in Argentina, as the Englishman rode to 18th place, his best Moto3 grand prix finish to date.

The 2017 British MotoStar champion came home less than ten seconds behind race winner Jaume Masia, and was not far off the back of the leading group in what was his first trip to the fast, technical Termas de Rio Hondo Circuit.

“I thought just make the first lap, nothing stupid like Qatar, and then pick them off,” said Booth-Amos. “I was last going onto the back straight on the first lap, but at least we made the first lap this time.

“But I’m really happy. We made a big step this weekend. I feel like the bike is actually mine. It’s nice. We haven’t really changed much. It’s still pretty much base setting. It’s just me learning how to ride the KTM again.

“I’m really happy. The team are working really good.”

Booth-Amos fought his way through to the front of the second group, which was around seven seconds back of a frantic 17-rider scrap for the lead.

“Every lap was the same distance [to the front group], but I made a mistake on lap two and the gap opened and that was it, man,” he said. “Then I thought when [Jakub] Kornfeil passed me, maybe he would take me back to the group, but then he crashed.

“Some laps I caught them and then in the end I was struggling with rear grip, but this is just learning how to control the tire. I’m really happy.”

“This track suits me a little bit. It’s a bit of everything. Fast corners and heavy braking. Now my style is coming back to how it was in 2017.

“Now we’re getting somewhere. Now I won’t be last every session, I hope anyway. I feel good. This is the main thing.”

Booth-Amos had to overcome the effects of a broken foot during the first race weekend of the year. But after a week’s rest and some light training, he felt his condition was “a lot better” in Argentina.

“As soon as I got back from Qatar I went to see Doctor Mir who’s my surgeon in Spain. He just said rest for a week, so I had a week at home enjoying it doing nothing. I did some cycling on the turbo trainer.

“Then it was my birthday, and then I come here. I’m still not 100%. It still hurts when I’m riding, but it’s a lot better than it was in Qatar. And no crashes this weekend, which is always a good thing.”

The Englishman’s showing capped a fine day for the CIP Green Power KTM squad, one of the smallest team’s in the grand prix paddock. Team-mate Darryn Binder rode to a brilliant second.

“Darryn in P2. It’s always good. We’re a small team. There’s only seven guys in the team. That’s it. Including the crew chief and everything there’s only seven of us. So for a little team they’re really good and I’m really happy where I am.”