Hervé Poncharal may well be in his sixties, but he is still the enthusiast from the start when the deadline for the first Grand Prix opening the season approaches. In 2022, he is perhaps even a little more so because he will approach this campaign with two rookies within his Tech3 troops who are more than promising. Indeed, one is the reigning Moto2 World Champion and the other his runner-up. However, the Frenchman points out that if Remy Gardner should experience a certain serenity, his teammate Raul Fernandez will be assailed by the competition who will want to include him in their ranks quite quickly...
Hervé Poncharal prepares to head towards the Qatar and its Losail route for a 2022 season thatAleix Espargaro from his stand Aprilia promised to be the most difficult of all. It will certainly already be the longest with 21 jousting. And in terms of overall level, you only have to look at the timesheets for this offseason to realize that it’s going to be tight, to say the least… “ A new season always brings intense, exciting and moving moments. », declares the Tech3 KTM Factory Racing Team Principal. “ We look forward to starting the season in Qatar on the first weekend of March », confirmed the Frenchman in an interview with speedweek.
After a previous campaign spent with Danilo Petrucci et Iker Lecuona in the ranks, two pilots that we will describe as transitional, the tricolor welcomes Remy gardner et Raul Fernandez with great ambitions. However, even before the first race, Hervé Poncharal warns about the KTM rookie Raul fernandez that we will have to be vigilant about the events that are sure to occur behind the scenes...
Hervé Poncharal: “ as soon as the races start, Raul Fernandez will be attacked again by the other teams”
He says thus: “ Raúl is a diamond in the rough. It’s a talent that doesn’t come along every year. Everyone wanted to hire him for 2022, he had offers from many manufacturers. These offers began in the spring. Almost everyone contacted him, his manager confirmed it to me. And I don't think that will change in the upcoming season. As soon as the races start, Raúl will be attacked again by the other teams, because his talent is indescribable ». KTM will therefore have to be attentive to events, as the manufacturer was, and quite firmly, when the same Raul fernandez had come closer in 2021 to Yamaha to climb in MotoGP.
The Frenchman ends with his 2022 objectives: “ it will be interesting to see where our drivers stand compared to the other three rookies. And it will also be interesting to see how they compare to Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira of the Red Bull KTM team. Our goal is definitely to win the 'Rookie of the Year Award'. There are two strong riders at Ducati with Bezzecchi and Di Giannantonio and Darryn Binder will do his best for Yamaha. It will therefore be a great challenge to win the beginners' championship. This remains our main objective ».
However, Hervé Poncharal slips too… “ We will see what level Remy and Rául reach because we have an incredibly competitive peloton this year. Our real point of reference will be Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira. They ride identical bikes and we know they both won MotoGP races. We know that if everything goes well, they can fight for the title. We must therefore see where we stand in relation to them. If we're close to them, we won't be far from the top five ". Considering how the five days of off-season testing unfolded between Sepang and Indonesia, revealing the KTM troops still finding their way, it would be quite a sensation.
