The Australian, son of 1987 500cc world champion Wayne Gardner, had admitted his premier-class future was suddenly look🐟ing very bleak at the end of the recent Red Bull Ring event.

Upon arrival at Misano on Thursday, Gardner confirmed he now has to try and sa꧟lvage something&n⛄bsp;outside of the premier class for 2023:

“Nothing is clear at the mo♎ment… But I’m not going to🐠 be in MotoGP.”

Gardner: 'KTM said I was not professional enough'

The news that KTM was not going to take up its option on Gardner had been delivere꧟d to the shocked 24-year-old on Saturday in Austria.

“Wasn't expecting it to be honest. I've always given 100% and un🍌fortunately I don't think it was good enough,” he said.

Asked about the reason given by KTM for its decision, Gardner replied: “They said I was not professioꦆnal🥂 enough.” No examples were given for that verdict.

With team-mate and fellow rookie Raul Fernandez leaving for RNF Aprilia, 𝐆Gardner’s place alongside new signing Pol Espargaro had looked safe.

That was also Gardner's impression.

“The feeling was and the impressionꦫ was, yeah, we should continue and in Austria we’ll get it done… I𒐪 don't know, I'm just as confused [by it].”

The first public signs that Gardner was in trouble came when Pit Beirer revealed on Friday at the Red Bull Ring that the factory would make another late bi෴d to try and keep Miguel Oliveira, to join the returning Espargaro.

But even before the Portuguese had made his final decision🌊, ultimately turning down the GASGAS offer and signing for RNF Aprilia, Gardner had been informed he was out.

“I felt like I always gave my 100% for them [KTM]. My intention was to stay here and give my best and honestly, they've broken 🧜my heart," Gardner said.

“I felt like maybe there's not an ap๊preciation for the [Moto2] world championship I brought them as well.

“I was just giving my best ♈all the time an🏅d I guess it wasn't good enough.

“Anyway, I'm just𒈔 going to continue giving my 100%, but for nobody except myself and obviously the people who work with me.”

Gardner: 'Enjoy what's left of my MotoGP career'

Gardner has s💞cored 9 points so far this season with 5 for Fernandez. A bes൲t race result of 11th for Gardner compares with 12th for Fernandez.

While factory KTM riders Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder have 85 and 107 points respectively, Gardner feels he has not been far from the pair in𝓰✨ terms of the lap time and data analysis.

“I think it hasn't been a disaster. I mean, if you have a look at the times and everything and how close I am to the factory guys usually," he said. “It’s still my first year! 🔯It's Miguel's fourth year in MotoGP...

"I h🌄onestly think it was not bad and honestly iꦯt was positive vibes from them [KTM]. But yeah, we got to Austria and it’s basically ‘you're out’.

“They’☂ve told me extremely late… They've really screwed me over here, to be honest, for finding a seat for next year.

"So it's left me in a bit of a crappy position."

Gardner: 'It sucks. But what are you going to do?'

“🌱It sucks. But what are you going to do? There are a few races left so you can just go out, do your best and enjoy what's left 🍌of my MotoGP career.

“It's definitely hard to take. After fighting so many years and with a lot of injuries and fighting with not 🎶maybe the best machinery and then finally managed to actually kick a goal and win a champioꦡnship… To just have only one year in MotoGP breaks my heart.

“I just🐠 feel a little bit deceived by ꦏthe world of motorcycles at the moment. That's why I'm not really sure even what I want to do next year.”

But Gardner, now being linked with a possible retur✃n to Moto2 or switch to WorldSBK, confirmed he will race somewhere next season.

“It just hurts more that they've left me out in the street, basically, at thཧis time when there are no rides left.

“Obviously I want to try and find a 🌳good ride for next year. Keep racing for sure.

“I do have a few offers 🎃to stay in this paddock, obviously not in Mo🧔toGP, but we'll have to see.”

Augusto Fernandez, who joined the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 team after Gardner and Fernandez mo✅ved to MotoGP, is now tipped to partner Pol Espargaro at Tech3 in 2023.

The only other MotoGP seats still to💖 be officially confirmed are at VR46 Ducati, which will keep both Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi, plus the remai♛ning LCR Honda ride, set to go to either Takaaki Nakagami or Ai Ogura.

Me൲anwhile, Gardner is not the only MotoGP rookie out of a ride with RNF's Darryn Binder also looking at Moto2 🏅for next year.

But while Binder skipped the intermediate class and jumped🎉 straღight from Moto3, Gardner has already spent six seasons in Moto2.