GasGas signs Augusto Fernandez for 2023 MotoGP season
The GasGas Factory Racing Team has completed its rider lineup ahead of its 2023 MotoGP debut, with Augusto Fernandez announced as the second rider, joining Pol Espargaro in the squad formerly known as Tech3 KTM Factory Racing.
Fernandez, who turned 25 a week after his signing was announced on 16 September, was considered the strong favourite to join the rebranded Tech3 team after it was revealed that neither Remy Gardner nor Raul Fernandez would be retained for 2023.
Championship leader in Moto2 at time of writing, Fernandez joined that class in 2017 (bypassing Moto3) after success at national and European level. The Spaniard took his first race wins in 2019, then a string of podiums in 2021.
This year, riding for Red Bull KTM Ajo (for whom Remy Gardner delivered the Moto2 World Championship last year), Fernandez has taken four race wins and four other podiums. At time of writing, after the Thai GP, Fernandez held the barest of championship leads – half a point – over Idemitsu Honda Team Asia’s Ai Ogura.
“Wow, this is amazing: to be able to make the jump to MotoGP with GasGas,” Fernandez said. “I’m really happy. It’s a dream. We still have work to do in Moto2 [so] I want to go for the title and go to the MotoGP class – and this next challenge - in the best possible way.”
Hervé Poncharal, GasGas Factory Racing Team Principal, said he had been following the Spaniard’s career for some years and believes he and Pol Espargaro will make a strong combination in 2023.
“We discussed moving up to the higher class two years ago but [Augusto] was not ready yet for the big jump. When we met again recently, it appeared very clear he was prepared to come to MotoGP.
“I am excited about next season because our garage will have a mix of experience and youth through Pol and Augusto. They are both Spanish and will work in a positive and constructive way and this is what we have been looking for.”
Pit Beirer, GasGas Motorsports Director, added: “Augusto completes a special ‘all-Spanish’ flavor for the first year of the GasGas story in MotoGP. He has worked great with Aki and his team, fought hard on the track and showed that he knows how to make the difference in a very close championship where we have seen quite a few different winners.
“We feel that he has done everything to earn his chance next to Pol in 2023 and to discover what MotoGP is all about. He is about to take the toughest step, where the competition is so strong, but we believe in him and he also believes in us and that’s the best reason to take a step forward.”
