Colossal fourth place Augusto Fernandez in the MotoGP French GP. It is true that there were many crashes, up to eight, and that the GASGAS rider benefited from some of them, but also that he is a rookie who in just five races has already fulfilled all the expectations of the season. The Moto2 champion has shown that he is a full-fledged queen class rider.
Are you aware of what you have done? Did you imagine something like that?
-No, no, not so much. I knew, as I already said, that my problem has always been qualifying because later in the race it’s always a little better, and yesterday when we did some good qualifying and finished twelfth, I also said that my pace was a bit better than twelve, but no. I imagined so much, but it was also a little better. I got out into the mess, I made a good start and with the mess that there was, I was able to get hooked on the group and then I saw that I could be there. I tried to hold on and the truth is that I’m surprised because I felt good on every lap, with a good pace of 32 basses throughout the race. I have chosen the soft front that I did not use yesterday, because on paper it was not ideal, but I did feel good with it and today I paid more attention to my feelings and went with the soft tyre. Yes, it’s true that in the end I suffered a bit and that Aleix was coming strong with the hard one, but I was able to defend myself and the rest of the race was how I felt, so I’m happy.
-What a change from Jerez here…
-Yes, what I was saying now, all things are so close together that in the end we don’t have anything new, but doing some tests after the first part of the season in which we have already seen how things are going, and a calm day , trying things, trying nonsense. I feel that they were things to be more comfortable on the bike and the truth is that it gave me a lot, especially more than to go fast to have perseverance and sensations with the bike. I don’t want to say it with a big mouth either because it’s the first weekend that I’ve done everything right. We have to get to Mugello and continue like this, but I’m happy, it’s a good step and now it’s about maintaining it.
-And the falls?
– Shit. (Smiles). Honestly, especially this morning I did lose confidence, because yesterday I made a mistake in choosing the tire and I just wanted to forget it quickly. Today’s was with the race tyre, I hadn’t done much to crash and I hit it, which is why I started the race a bit lacking in confidence, especially in those two corners, but I didn’t have much time to fall asleep because I have gone well, I have placed myself in good positions and I have woken up immediately.
-Five races, five finishes. Is finishing the races already a merit?
-Yes, especially for me, which is the main objective, to score points or not, since I still don’t understand how the whole bike is going and where I learn and understand things the most is 25 laps or whatever they are in each circuit. Whatever the pace, the information I get in the race and from others is vital for me. In the sprint race I made a mistake, it was the first time I started like this, in the group, and apart from the crash I had a straight in turn nine, due to the aspiration, which you have to brake a little before, because it is true that it increases for ten everything and I experienced it yesterday. That’s why today I was a little more careful because I need to experience everything and that’s why I need every lap of every Grand Prix. It’s vital for me to finish as many races as I can.
-Have you met your expectations for the entire season in five races? Next up is the podium?
Well, yes, why not. Firstly, to settle here, in Q2 is very important. During the preseason, at the end of the race, even on circuits where you haven’t had such good results, the end of the race is not bad, it’s like a rhythm from fifth to tenth, but starting on twenty as it did in Jerez is impossible. There are people who do it but it is difficult. What is most difficult for me are the classifications, which has come out here although I don’t know very well how, but now we are going to Mugello and see if we can once again meet the goal of entering Q2 and we’ll see.
-Are you more of a MotoGP rider than a Moto2 rider?
-I think so. No? (Smiles). The truth is that I wanted to come here because with my physique in Moto2 I suffered a lot and I need time to adapt to the category, which is very difficult and you have to understand many different things. The tires are one of them and look at this weekend, because of a bad choice, everything is ruined. You have to be very focused and aware of everything and there are many things that need time but you have to continue without freaking out too much and keep working.
-Isn’t it time to talk about the renewal?
-Yeah, I’m going to tell my father to go talk to them this afternoon. (Laughter).
