The teams started preparing for the 2022 season this week at the Misano test. Some of them were able to use the new chassis, engines and aerodynamic parts for the first time, but for Tech3 the test was the first opportunity to welcome rookies Remy Gardner and Raúl Fernández. For the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 teammates it was their debut on a MotoGP bike.
The Australian and the Spaniard got on the RC16 for the first time on Wednesday with the aim of knowing all the procedures and adjusting their position on the bike in order to get down to work in the Jerez tests scheduled for just after the end of the season. Both closed the time sheet, with Raúl being 0.7s faster than Remy. The man from Madrid did 51 laps and finished with a huge smile on his face.
“I am very happy, it has been an incredible day that I will never forget,” said the #25 to the official MotoGP website after getting off the bike. “The bike is incredible, at first I thought there would be a lot of new things all at once, like carbon brakes, but I found an easy bike and I enjoyed it like a child”.
“I’ve seen a lot of riders, like Marquez or Joan Mir, Maverick [Viñales]. But they’re too fast for me right now, I can’t keep up with them.”
Raúl Fernández was clear about what impressed him the most: “Everything. The power is incredible. la Vega, whom Dani Pedrosa advised the day before.
However, before going up to MotoGP, he wants to speed up his chances of becoming Moto2 champion.
“I want to start the work for next year as soon as possible, but I am totally focused on Moto2. In Valencia I will focus on MotoGP”.
(Before reading on, click on the link or on the image to see the photos of the MotoGP test in Misano)
Gardner, for his part, completed 47 laps in which he had his first romp with MotoGP.
“It was incredible, really. I was expecting that power and that braking, but until you try it you don’t understand. It’s crazy how fast it is. The crash was a bit silly. I had a new rear tire, I was on the wheel a little lifted and in turn 10 I went off the line. I was going much faster than with Moto2. When braking I started to open up and I fell in the dirt. A small and silly fall, it was the first one. I hope I don’t have too many “explained the Aussie .
