Gardner clears up dispute with his legendary father on social media

September 8, 2022

The 2021 Moto2 world champion, Remy Gardner, is not going through his best emotional moment. The young Australian rider assured on Thursday of last week, in the run-up to the San Marino Grand Prix, that “KTM has broken my heart”, by leaving him without a bike for 2023.

The Austrian manufacturer has not left the slightest margin to the rider who gave him the world title last year in the intermediate class, and after only a few months in MotoGP , with the worst bike on the grid, he has struck down unceremoniously.

The seriousness of the situation made the rider’s father react, the legendary ex-rider Wayne Gardner , winner of 18 Grand Prix races and 500cc world champion, with Honda, in 1987.

Crocodile Gardner expressed, this past Monday, on his social networks the disagreement regarding the behavior of his son Remy with KTM.

“It is very sad to see that Remy’s future in MotoGP will end in 2022 because of his so-called manager Paco Sánchez and his ridiculous behavior with KTM. Remy has the talent and the potential to win, but he needs a lot of changes in his inner circle of MotoGP. management team and other areas,” he wrote in a clear attack on his representative, the Spanish Paco Sánchez .

Remy’s response was immediate and he broke a spear in defense of his agent.

“I am very sorry for Wayne Gardner’s words against my manager. Paco is not responsible for my departure from KTM and I fully trust his professionalism and honesty. Together we will find a new project to continue enjoying this sport that I love so much,” he said in their social networks on the same Monday.

On Tuesday, after the first official MotoGP test day in Misano, Gardner attended the media, as usual, having to deal with questions regarding the exchange of messages with his father.

“He’s my father, I love him but he’s been out of my professional career for the last few years. Everyone has seen him. I’m not going to talk about private issues,” he said when asked about the subject.

Last May, M otorsport.com had the opportunity to hold a face-to-face interview with the Australian driver, in which he stated: “Having an illustrious surname has given me things and taken them away”, referring to his dad.

The relationship between the two was severed a few years ago, when Remy decided to take charge of his life, a change that led him to become world champion.

“Surely he has given me something and taken something from me. For some things it has been very difficult, I assure you one hundred percent. But something has also helped me, surely in my early years, he has taught me everything, he gave me a training and helped me learn faster. But there are also negative parts, he still has problems with people from the past, or whatever, and quite a few doors are closed”, explained Remy in the interview, in which it was clear that he did not want to talk about the topic.

“At first I came (to the races), but it’s been years since I’m older and I can do things for myself,” he settled then.

Gardner’s response to his father was not confrontational at all, it was more of a confirmation of his trust with his manager.

“Like I said, Paco is my representative and I believe in him. I think he always has the best for me, obviously I wanted to make that clear.”

A future that, right now, is not at all clear.

“Paco is working on it, he’s looking at the options. I’m not sure yet, really. We’re looking for the best option, a competitive option with which he can get back to the front and fight for victories, which I think I can do”, he explained.

In principle, his representative manages the possibility of competing in the WorldSBK, as long as he can close an agreement with a leading team, or return to Moto2.

“I’m not sure yet,” he says about his options, to repeat the same thing when asked which possibility seduces him the most. “I’m not sure yet. I hope something will be decided soon,” he asks.

For a world champion rider, being faced with the situation of being left without a seat in MotoGP just a few months after his debut, is devastating.

“The first few weeks were tough. It’s the dream you fight for all your life, to get to MotoGP. After finally winning the championship and being successful, the first week was quite tough. But where one door closes, another opens. “There are races in other places, there is a life outside of racing and there are other competitions, like Superbikes or other classes. Life goes on, something happens for something. I try to enjoy my last races in MotoGP because I don’t know if I will come back,” he said. .

Apart from being an extraordinary driver, Gardner is a handyman in the restoration of classic cars, an art that he has taught himself, even designing parts and manufacturing them with a 3D printer, which has become his great passion.

“I’m going to enjoy this as much as possible and but I also have my hobbies outside of racing, so there’s a future there too. That’s all I can think of at the moment,” the Australian settled.

Remy Gardner, KTM Tech3

1 / 50

Photo by: KTM

Remy Gardner, KTM Tech3

2 / 50

Photo by: MotoGP

Remy Gardner, KTM Tech3

3 / 50

Photo by: Tech 3

Remy Gardner, KTM Tech3

4 / 50

Photo by: Tech 3

Remy Gardner, KTM Tech3

5 / 50

Photo by: KTM

Remy Gardner, KTM Tech3

6 / 50

Photo by: KTM

Remy Gardner, KTM Tech3

7 / 50

Photo by: KTM

Remy Gardner, KTM Tech3

8 / 50

Photo by: KTM

Remy Gardner, KTM Tech3