After the Tech3 driver duo once again disappointed at KTM’s home race in Spielberg, staying in the 2023 MotoGP paddock is becoming increasingly unlikely for both Remy Gardner and Raúl Fernández.
In qualifying for the Austrian GP, Remy Gardner and Raúl Fernández had to be content with grid positions 22 and 23. In the 28-lap race on Sunday, both KTM Tech3 drivers also showed a poor performance, Fernández ended up 42 seconds behind race winner Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati) in 18th place.
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Welcome to racing at the Red Bull Ring
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Maverick Vinales
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Brad Binder
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George Martin
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start of the race
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Francesco Bagnaia
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Luca Marini
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Brad Binder
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Alex Rins
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Bezzecchi and Martin
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Jack Miller
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Miguel Oliveira
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johann zarco
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Stefan Bradl
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Francesco Bagnaia
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fabio quartararo
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Vinales and Oliveira
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Aleix Espargaró
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Francesco Bagnaia wins the race
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Sieger Francesco Bagnaia
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Quartararo, Bagnaia, Miller
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Sieger Francesco Bagnaia
“It was a difficult race. I gave my maximum, but in the end we weren’t competitive. Above all, the KTM lacks traction and we also have deficits during the braking phase,” was the devastating verdict of the frustrated Spaniard.
The race was even worse for stablemate Gardner as the 2021 Moto2 World Champion sank his KTM RC16 in the gravel trap on lap six. Gardner picked up his bike again, but ended up losing and one lap behind. “I drove into turn 4 too fast, couldn’t stop the bike and then went into the gravel bed and fell over,” Gardner described the events.
He added: “It then took me a lap to get the bike going again. At least I finished the race. It was a weekend to forget, three falls are too many.”
Gardner currently has no contract for 2023, but he considers it unlikely that he will remain in the MotoGP paddock. “It looks like there will be no MotoGP place for me next season.”
MotoGP result, Spielberg, August 21st
1. Bagnaia, Ducati, 28 Runden in 42:14.886 min
2. Quartararo, Yamaha, + 0,492 sec
3. Miller, Ducati, +2,163
4. Marini, Ducati, +8,348
5. Zarco, Ducati, + 8.821
6. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, + 11.287
7. Brad Binder, KTM, + 11,642
8. Rins, Suzuki, +11,780
9. Bezzecchi, Ducati, + 16,987
10. Martin, Ducati, + 17,144
11. Di Giannantonio, Ducati, + 17.471
12. Oliveira, KTM, + 18,035
13. Viñales, Aprilia, + 20.012
14. Alex Marquez, Honda, +26,880
15. Dovizioso, Yamaha, +29,744
16. Pol Espargaro, Honda, +30,994
17. Bradl, Honda, +37,960
18. Fernández, KTM, + 42,082
19. Savadori, Aprilia, + 46,666
20. Gardner, KTM, +1 lap
– Morbidelli, Yamaha
– Darryn Binder, Yamaha
– Nakagami, Honda
– Bastianini, Ducati
– Mir, Suzuki
MotoGP Riders’ World Championship after 13 of 20 Grands Prix:
1. Quartararo 200 Punkte. 2. Aleix Espargaró 168. 3. Bagnaia 156. 4. Zarco 125. 5. Miller 123. 6. Bastianini 118. 7. Brad Binder 107. 8. Rins 92. 9. Martin 87. 10. Oliveira 85. 11. Viñales 85. 12. Mir 77. 13. Marini 69. 14. Bezzecchi 68. 15. Marc Márquez 60. 16. Nakagami 45. 17. Pol Espargaró 42. 18. Alex Márquez 29. 19. Morbidelli 26. 20. Di Giannantonio 23 21. Dovizioso 11. 22. Darryn Binder 10. 23. Gardner 9. 24. Raúl Fernández 5.
Constructors’ Championship:
1. Ducati 296 Punkte. 2. Yamaha 200. 3. Aprilia 185. 4. KTM 140. 5. Suzuki 118. 6. Honda 90.
Team World Cup:
1. Ducati Lenovo Team 279 Punkte. 2. Aprilia Racing 253. 3. Monster Energy Yamaha 226. 4. Prima Pramac Racing 212. 5. Red Bull KTM Factory 192. 6. Suzuki Ecstar 169. 7. Gresini Racing 141. 8. Mooney VR46 Racing 137. 9. Repsol Honda 102. 10. LCR Honda 74. 11. WithU Yamaha RNF 21. 12. Tech3 KTM Factory 14.