'Incredible' first MotoGP laps for Remy Gardner, Raul Fernandez
'Incredible' – that was the word both Remy Gar﷽dner and Raul Fernandez used to describe their fir💙st experience of a MotoGP bike, on Wednesday at the Misano test.
The Moto2 team-mates and title leaders were given the chance toꦫ make an early MotoGP debut for the KTM Tech3 team they will both race for in 2022.
Completing just over 40 laps each on the RC16, Fernandez finished 2🦩2nd on the timesheets (+2.💦389s) with Gardner 25th (+3.042s).
We think Raul Fernandez & Remy Gardner enjoyed that one
— ltxcn.top/MotoGP (@crash_motogp)
They have alrea🃏dy been out on track this morni🗹ng on the Tech 3 KTM
Moto2 rookie F♕ernandez, who outpaced MotoGP test riders Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia) and Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki), said: “I’m really happy and thanks to KTM for giving me an opportunity. It was an amazing day and incredible to ride that bike.
"At the beginning there were many new things to think about, like the carbon brakes, but after a while it felt quite easy and I was enjoying it like a ki☂d. T⭕he power was…wow.
"I want🎀 to start the work for next season as soon as po🐲ssible even though all my focus is on Moto2 right now. In Valencia we’ll start again.”
“Incrediඣble, honestly. I mean I expected power and strong braking but until you really try it then you don’t🔯 know," said Gardner, son of 1987 500cc world champion Wayne.
"I was going through gears like there was no✨ tomorrow. Even in the last laps it was 🐓mind-blowing how fast it was. I had a great day and a lot of fun. It was good to get a feel for the bike and to try and understand it.
"It was a nice little treat for us by KTM. I cannot wait to start for real and I’m looking forwar⛎d to push the bike next time, trying to find those limits.”
KTM team manage𝔉r Mike Leitner added: "Raul and Remy took the Tech3 RC16s for some laps and it is always super-nice to see when a rider has his first experience with a MotoGP bike; their faces when they came back in said a lot!
"They have never h♔ad that power before. The target of the test for them was just to get that taste of MotoGP."
Gardner (who has won four races) starts the last four rounds of the Moto2 season with a 34-poiꦅnt lead over♏ Fernandez (six wins).
Current Tech3 riders Danilo Pe🦄trucci and Iker Lecuona rode on day one of the test.
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 ye♈ars and has seen Valentino ౠRossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
