Raul Fernandez is one of its young Grand Prix drivers who are closely followed by the manufacturers, always ready to spot, to better enlist, the Champion of tomorrow. For the moment, it is KTM which has control over this Spaniard who knows that another even younger than him, Pedro Acosta, is already in his aspiration. Things are definitely going fast in MotoGP and not just on the track. However, you have to be careful not to rush too much and this interview with the Tech3 pilot in the show 'Esto va solo', on Nico Abad's Twitch channel demonstrates that nothing is simple or taken for granted...
This moment of truth is relayed by Motosan and it presents a Raul fernandez who, after these Grand Prix years this season, and on the eve of attacking the third of this weekend in Argentina, has just become aware of the challenge that MotoGP is for a 21-year-old rookie. “This is my fourth year in the World Championship, and for me, every year has been different. I didn't have stability for two or three years in the same team and the same category. It's a process that is very big for me at the moment, but with time I will be able to assimilate it » he said.
He admits to having realized certain things during his first Grand Prix on the RC16 at Qatar, among the other drivers in the premier category… “ It was a very difficult weekend for us. What I was most worried about, the bike's performance, surprised me. Motorcycling is at a level where you can fight to win. It gives me a lot of peace of mind. But it's true that I wanted to get there in Qatar and, after the tests we did, I didn't expect to be so far from the official team. It was a cold shower. Ultimately, I come from a very different category. The level of MotoGP is incredible, all the factories fighting to win. Yes it’s true that the first race was hard ».
His life in MotoGP is very different from that known until then in other categories: “ I remember last year I stayed with the team for a long time and this year I can't. Because after the tests, I have to go do interviews, see a sponsor, a media... And ultimately it's a lot of hassle and we realize that the weekend goes by quickly. Getting to MotoGP is a dream, but I haven’t yet sat in the box and said “Oh my god, I’m in MotoGP”. I didn't have time for that. I arrive at the box and there is work. I come out of the box and there is more work. But hey, it's part of the game and you have to accept it “, declared the Madrilenian.
Raul Fernandez also relies a lot on Dani Pedrosa
« I am a person who considers himself a very hard worker in the cubicle. I like to analyze everything, see everything, study everything. And I didn't have time, my time is twenty minutes in the box. And I like to spend twenty hours, not twenty minutes. But hey, in the end, I understand and little by little I adapt, there will come a time when it will come out on its own ". A challenge that Raul fernandez does not stand alone, however: “ at the rider level, who has helped me since Moto3 and who is there every day, it was with Nani [Roma]. Now, in MotoGP, I have more people. I also have Dani Pedrosa, who also helps me as a driver. I have my family and my environment who help me a lot, I also have a person who takes me and helps me with social networks. Without them, the work would be much more difficult » he admitted.
The role of Dani Pedrosa is essential for the pilot Tech3 and for KTM. “ From the first test I had on the bike, Dani was there to help me. And if I have any problems, he's there, he can help me with anything. He is the first who always gave me his hand for everything I needed. There's nothing special: what I feel on the bike, what I feel in the box, that's all. Sportingly, he is very professional, he is very organized. Working with him is very easy, helping you on the track is very easy. A person like Dani, who has won so many races in this category, would be stupid not to listen to him because ultimately he knows a lot » concludes the Moto2 World vice-champion of Remy gardner who is also his teammate this year in MotoGP.
