In his first –and only– season in Moto2, Raúl Fernández won eight races and finished runner-up in the world behind his teammate Remy Gardner. These results earned him the jump to MotoGP in 2022 with the Tech3 team, where he will team up again with the Australian.
In an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com before the Jerez test, the driver from San Martín de la Vega (Madrid) surprised by accusing the Ajo team of putting “stones in his way”.
“The problem we had is that my entire team, and when I refer to my team I mean my mechanics, that I was very lucky to find such a special group, had no experience and nobody knew how to guide us. I have lacked a hand to guide us, a hand to tell us, like little children before tripping over a stone, to be careful. A figure that would guide us and open the way for us, a figure that would like to help us in order to win, not a figure that would put stones and obstacles for us not to achieve it. That was the key. It’s difficult, because when you’re a pilot and you fight for a dream you need people by your side who really believe in you, and who don’t put stones in your way. That is why today we do not have the crown of champions, but morally it has been shown by results that I am the strongest driver, with the most victories, pole positions, fastest laps,” said the Spaniard.
Without mentioning him directly, Raúl Fernández’s words were addressed to the team leader, Aki Ajo . Speaking to Speedweek , the Finn said it was “normal for the second driver to be disappointed”.
“I am very grateful for his wonderful performance. If he makes emotional comments now, it doesn’t matter. Being old myself, I can’t always keep my cool. I got emotional after the Valencia race. You can’t expect young drivers to be able to control their emotions all the time,” Ajo said.
(Before reading on, click on this link or scroll through the images to see Raúl Fernández’s debut in MotoGP at the Jerez test)
Gardner also shrugged off the controversy during the Jerez test, calling his team-mate’s comments “nonsense”. Ajo, for his part, prefers to remember Fernández’s exceptional season.
“The only thing I want to say is that Raúl has had an incredible season. I really have great respect for his rookie season. For me, he is an incredible talent. From the middle to the end I thought it would be difficult to have our two drivers playing against each other. the title, but again, everyone kept calm and professional in the box. Until the last moment I was happy and satisfied with that.”
“If a driver thinks that everything was not optimal, it is understandable. The driver who does not win the championship looks for explanations and causes. We must not forget that Raúl won eight races in his first season. Remy won five, was more consistent, made a incredible season. And there were no conflicts in the team. We have to be very satisfied with our season. We have been professional and we look forward”, settled.
