Augusto Fernández debuted in MotoGP last year with Red Bull GasGas Tech3. The fourth place obtained in the French GP that year suggested he had the potential to fight for good results in Hervé Poncharal’s team, but since then he has never managed to reach that level again – far from it.
At the end of the season, the rider will leave the team, and at this point he admitted to PecinoGP that there is no ideal understanding with the team: ‘I gave it my all. What happens is that, I’ve said it many times, I and Tech3 weren’t understanding each other – as rider/technician and rider/team. But I gave it my all’.
According to Fernández, in 2023 there was already a lack of connection with Tech3: ‘Last year it worked in four races because I was a rookie. If you analyze my season, there were very good races and very bad races, and very good races that could have been much better, I believe. That’s the summary I make when I analyze it, because I say, last year was better than this year. But it was four races – or three, I would say – that went well. But then it seemed like I was a rookie again; we were back in 18th and nothing happened, we were 40 seconds behind and nothing happened, I was last in qualifying and nothing happened. Then I would finish 11th and it was okay. So, analyzing that season, there were good things that could have been better, but there was a lack of connection – I’m not saying I didn’t try it, that they’re still trying it, but there’s a lack of connection’.
Aware of the importance of the 2024 season, this was discussed with the team: ‘That’s what I conveyed to KTM when I knew this year was important and we couldn’t keep finishing 18th, not even 15th or 14th. Something needed to change, which they didn’t want’, Fernández said.
The Spanish rider then emphasized the importance of having a good rapport with the crew chief: ‘All riders need their technician. If you look, all good riders have their technician with them everywhere. It’s very important, and today in MotoGP everything is very balanced and every tenth counts. I experienced it in Moto2: I had a team change that we thought would be better, but I also didn’t get along with people at Marc VDS and it was a disaster. And then I changed teams again, found Massimo Branchini who was the Ajo technician at the time, and from one year to the next I became world champion. I’m going through something similar now. Tech3 is trying everything, we’re trying several things in detail because in the end currently in MotoGP you’re eight tenths off and you’re nobody. If you’re half a second off you’re out of the top ten and you’re nothing. Many details are missing that need to be considered and we’re not fitting in’.
Finally, Fernández also said: ‘It’s not even a tenth per corner, but that’s why you need everything together. Everything needs to fit. I’m not the only one needing a technician who understands me. If you look at Pecco [Bagnaia], how many years has he had his technician? Jorge [Martín], how many years has he been here? Jack [Miller], coming from Ducati here, brought his. Now Maverick [Viñales] and Enea [Bastianini] will bring theirs. Everyone knows we are all very good in MotoGP, and we need everything… in other words, we are the best riders, with the best technicians, with the best brands; it’s about the details’.