Current Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 star takes the final step in the KTM GP Academy journey to join current teammate Remy Gardner on the Tech16 KTM Factory Racing KTM RC3 next season.
Two wins and four podiums in two Moto3 seasons, and three wins with a total of six trophies to date in Moto2: 20-year-old Raul Fernandez will continue his rise to the top of MotoGP with a saddle at Tech3 KTM Factory Racing. next year.
The Spaniard, like Australian Remy Gardner, has been the dominant force within Aki Ajo's Red Bull KTM Ajo team in Moto2, after switching from KTM RC4 to Moto3 during 2020. He is 2nd behind Gardner in the championship at the halfway point of the season and on the eve of the Michelin Styrian Grand Prix race. Fernandez's adaptation to the demands of Moto2 and his rapid and continued development as a professional GP rider helped KTM's racing management make the decision to move the #25 up to the premier class.
KTM's MotoGP squadron for 2022 is set: Red Bull KTM Factory Racing will field Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira, and Tech3 KTM Factory Racing will work with rookies Raúl Fernández and Remy Gardner.
Raul Fernandez : " Honestly, I'm really happy with this KTM opportunity, both for this year and next. I learned a lot and enjoyed Moto2 and was able to put myself in a position where I have this chance to get into MotoGP, and I'm very grateful for that: It's every rider's dream to get there in this category. For now the most important thing is to continue to focus on this season and give everything I have until the last race to try to fight for the championship. If it doesn't work, too bad, everything happens for a reason, and you have to see the positive. I was a rookie this year and I want to close the chapter and start again in 2022, where I will look to find a good feeling on the bike and, above all, to have fun. »
Pete Beirer, Motorsport Director of KTM: “ I am happy to announce that Raúl will be moving to MotoGP with us, and this proves once again that our KTM GP Academy project works from the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup to MotoGP. We all know that Raúl is an exceptional talent. His move from Moto3 to Moto2 has raised some questions, but he has shown on several occasions that he is a great rider on a bigger bike, which is what we initially thought and hoped for as he was very tall for Moto3 . Moving to MotoGP so quickly was not part of the original plan, but he has shown he has the potential. The current Moto2 team with Remy is like a dream team, so moving them up to the premier class makes it very strong and means we now have riders for MotoGP who have come through our system. We had, and still have, a similar dream team with Brad and Miguel, and now we can repeat the same story with another Moto2 team. If you know the boys, their background, how they work and how they feel in the KTM environment, then it makes the effort even stronger. »
Hervé Poncharal, director of the Tech3 KTM Factory Racing team: “ The Tech3 KTM Factory Racing team is finally ready to announce its line up for the 2022 MotoGP season, and we are delighted, proud and excited to welcome Raúl Fernández alongside Remy Gardner. I think the 2022 season is going to be very exciting with the two brightest talents in the Moto2 category moving up to the premier class. Even though it will be their first season, I am sure they will learn quickly and after a few races they will show their potential in MotoGP as well. Raúl really had an incredible first part of the season in Moto2, which hadn't been done for a long time. Seeing him move to MotoGP after Remy makes us very excited. Although we are very happy with this announcement, we know that we still have half a season to go with our current drivers, Danilo Petrucci and Iker Lecuona, whom I would like to thank for their dedication and continued constructive attitude. We really hope we can give them what they expect and what they need to finish the 2021 season on a good note. And we clearly wish them the best and good luck for their future. It's always painful to make a decision, easy to welcome people but still very difficult to tell your riders that our relationship is going to end. I know this is the hardest part of our job. We are competitors, runners and that is part of our world. Once again, we really hope that we can provide the best support and atmosphere to Danilo and Iker for the remaining MotoGP season. »
Raul Fernandez, Moto2 race, Dutch MotoGP, June 27, 2021
