Remy Gardner is not getting excited, but all the same, he has regained positive thinking and a sense of direction by getting familiar with his new thoroughbred: the WSBK Yamaha R1. Driver of the satellite team of the Iwata brand in the category, he will have something to evaluate himself with a teammate Dominique Aegerter who showed during the tests in Jerez, that he has not been titled twice consecutively these last two years in WSS on an R6 by chance. The Australian was more comfortable during the following tests at Portimao than the Swiss, and now the duo heads to Phillip Island, Gardner's homeland. Final tests will take place there before truly launching into the competition. What will be the ambitions of Wayne's son in front of his audience? Quite high, and for a reason…
Remy gardner is not to claim that he had a revelation with the Yamaha R1, but all the same, he thinks he will be able to play a good role in this WSBK season, the hostilities of which will begin on his Phillip Island track, at the end of this month of February. However, he did not complete the two-day tests at Jerez et Portimao 1,2 seconds behind the leaders. A regrettable gap in Spain on his colleague from the brand Toprak Razgatlioglu, and last week in Portugal on Alvaro Bautista and his Ducati.
Remy Gardner: “compared to a MotoGP, the Yamaha looks like a toy"
« During the two days in Portimao we were able to gain more experience for Phillip Island ", said Remy gardner à speedweek. " I'm already looking forward to the test there, and hopefully we'll be ready for the season ". However, he also does not want to give the impression of putting the cart before the horse: “ one thing is also certain : we will not be ready to fight for the world championship from the first race ».
« I've had six days of testing this year and if the weather at Phillip Island is good I should be fine for the first few races » he adds anyway. “ Races are always something different from tests, I must first gain experience in this regard. Then I know where I need to improve and what we need to change ».
Then he admits what his optimism is based on, which he finds difficult to curb: “ next to a MotoGP, the Yamaha looks like a toy. I'm sure I'll be quick. This is real motorcycling and I have the feeling again that I had in Moto2 ". A category that he left in 2021 with the world crown, it should be remembered… Incidentally, as underlined GP One,aboard the R1, the Australian set his best time at Portimao in 1'40”202 with the Pirelli SCQ tire. Compared to what he had done with the KTM MotoGP during the weekend in the Algarve, he turned out to be two tenths faster, given that he had not done better than 1'40”494 with the RC16 throughout the weekend. Likewise, when the race simulation carried out in Portimao with the Yamaha, on SC0 tires, Remy gardner was able to drop to 1'40″8, only three tenths of a second from the performance achieved in the MotoGP race.
