Augusto Fernández completed his first season in MotoGP last year. He was the only rookie in 2023 and, as part of the GasGas Tech3 team, ended up being the only full-time rider for a significant part of the season due to Pol Espargaró’s injury, showing progress. The highlight was a fourth-place finish at the French Grand Prix.
Now, the Spanish rider, who naturally has higher expectations, is gearing up for his second season in the premier class – this time as the most experienced rider on the team, alongside rookie Pedro Acosta.
His first season in MotoGP, his feelings about the category, and his goals and expectations for 2024 were the subjects of discussion in an interview, which you can read below.
Your rookie season has maybe even been better than expected?
It’s been a positive one. As I’ve said many times, I feel that maybe before the season started the expectation was one thing, and I’ve been happy with how things have went, but lately I’m feeling stronger, and I’m happy with it. I have to be happy with how things have gone, because the level is good and we’re improving.
What have been the biggest surprises?
It’s been a very tough one. A positive one, with many new things like the tyres – even in Qatar, we tried a new front tyre that I’ve not had all season, and it’s still hard to understand these things. Even now, with the experience I have in MotoGP. Everything has been super new and super difficult from what I’ve been used to.
Because MotoGP bikes are so different now from Moto2?
I think so, yes. When I talk to Brad [Binder] or Pol [Espargaro] or Joan [Mir], riders who I have relationship with, when they came to MotoGP it wasn’t like this. It was a bike, a motorbike, and it was much easier to ride. Much better than the Moto2 bike, more powerful, better tyres, better everything. It’s still like this, but it’s very difficult to be in the performance window.
It’s very good, but it’s nothing until it goes very, very bad or the feeling is so strange, with the pressure, the temperature, all the wings and aero things. It’s very good, sometimes, but it’s very easy to be very bad too.
Has it been harder without a reference, the only rookie?
Especially at the beginning of the year when I was comparing myself to the rest of the riders with lots of experience, and being last, last, last and pushing like hell. Yeah, being at my maximum and being last is maybe the most mentally hardest part of this adaptation. Now it’s a bit better because I’m not last any more – and because I can read it in a different way.
But at the beginning when you’re used to being one, two three, first, second, third in Moto2 for the last years, it’s hard to be fighting for the last positions.
And you ended up as essentially the team leader.
I was alone. Luckily, the other team, the official KTM one, helped me a lot in terms of information from Brad and Jack. Whatever I wanted. I have to say, they gave me whatever I wanted. It’s not the same because with Pol I can compare myself at the same time – I jump off the bike, I go to the data guy, I ask for Pol’s lap, and I have it.
With Brad and Jack, I have to wait until the afternoon to maybe compare things. It’s been different, but I have to say that they’ve helped me as much as they could and I’m happy with it.
Did it feel like getting thrown into the deep end the first time you were alone in the box?
It was a big change, but the Tech3 team supported me well and I had no pressure at all. I was just trying to learn things and make the little steps. I felt supported by everyone here, and I felt good through the adaptation. It was helpful, not just being alone.
You’ve moved from one on-factory team to another where both are almost factory.
This has helped me, because even in Moto2 when I spoke with the KTM people I was already in the MotoGP family. I knew them from last year, and it felt familiar. It helped, for sure.
What are you looking for in 2024?
I think the goal, I don’t know about results because in MotoGP you never know and you need to have everything, but I want to fight to be the best KTM on the grid, more up there with Brad, or with Jack or with Pedro if it’s them. To perform as the best KTM bike is the main goal at every race next year.
Is it going to be easier to think about being higher in 2024?
You never know, but I really think that we’re improving a lot as a bike. Our time is coming, because I really think that from last year a lot of things have changed. We’ve taken a direction and of course it’s a long way, but we’re going step by step and we’re always improving. We’re getting closer.
It needs time, because we’re talking about the Ducati that has won the last two years, a very good bike over the last three or four or five years already. We are only new and we need time, but I think we are going to get there.
Are you one of the guys not looking forward to the season ending?
Thankfully in this last part of the season I’ve been improving a lot, and seeing good results. Well, good things, not results, because Sundays in the end I’m not performing as I want, but I’m seeing different positive things that make me want to keep going and keep racing, even if for sure we need some time and some rest to come back stronger for another tough season.
What do you need to do over winter?
We don’t have much time. One month, maybe, and then we’re preparing for the Sepang test. I won’t do many different things. I think with the level I have now, I don’t want to rest too much – maybe mentally more than physically or training on bikes. I just want to enjoy spending some time at home and be ready for the next year.
Next year’s bike should be better, too.
Honestly I don’t know what’s coming in terms of bikes or pieces, and I don’t really ask, for the moment, because I don’t want to be thinking about what Brad has or what Jack has that’s better than me. I have what I have, and I don’t ask. I have my bike. I have margin to get the best from my package still.
Your new teammate isn’t really new to you.
There’s a strong one coming! I’m looking forward to having him in the box, and I think he’s going to adapt quickly to the bike like he did in Moto2. I’ve said many times in the past that when he was competitive on a weekend in Moto2, it just helped me. It made me better, let me see where he was faster than me on data. We pushed each other and improved the level.
For sure we want to beat each other because we’re teammates and that is the first one that you want to beat, but I think it’s just going to be good for the brand, for the team and for me to have him strong as soon as possible.
You’re KTM but not KTM, and the brand is still very Spanish. Is that something that helps you?
We try to remember the people, the Spanish part of the team with GasGas. Again next year, we’ll have two Spanish riders, and I think that it’s a strong team to go against the factory one. That’s what we’ll try at least and let’s see if we can fight to be the best Pierer Mobility bike on the grid.
In one year’s time, what will have been a successful season?
In general, to be the best Pierer Mobility bike, and of course getting podiums and my first win. About position, I don’t know, because in MotoGP you never know, but let’s say best Pierer bike with wins and podiums would be perfect.
