The Crux For Augusto Fernandez - Here's What Helped The Spaniard Become A Title Contender
Categories: Moto2
Augusto Fernandez joined Aki Ajo’s Red Bull KTM Ajo Team for the 2022 Moto2 World Championship. After a broken thumb in February and a bumpy start to the season, the Spaniard thrived.
651 days had to pass until Augusto Fernandez finally, after a long drought, made it back on the podium at the Dutch Grand Prix in 2021.
Since then, the Spaniard has become consistently better on his Moto2 bike and is now a title contender for the Moto2 World Championship.
Augusto Fernadez scored FIVE podiums in the last six races 💪🇪🇸⚡️#MotoGP | #MGP1 pic.twitter.com/5HQMVKZw4r
— MGP1 (@mgp1official) July 15, 2022
At the beginning of the 2022 season, Fernandez made the switch from Marc VDS to Red Bull KTM to join Aki Ajo’s champion team – a deal that benefited both sides.
As Fernandez states in an interview with Speedweek.com: “Joining the team meant taking the step forward that I was missing in Moto2. After a good finish in last year’s season, in which I found my form again, this was the step that would allow me to fight for the title.”
He continues to say that switching to KTM was the main part that helped him become a title contender. “That’s been my goal for years and to be part of this team that has the experience to fight for the World Championship every year was what I wanted for this season.”
But, although now evenly on points with leader Celestino Vietti, the season did not start the way Fernandez had hoped for.
The Spaniard states: “With the start we had to the season, everything became a bit difficult. We lost a lot of points compared to the leaders, but never lost hope. We always say the season is still long – but the results didn’t come.”
For the Austrian team coming back to Europe was a major turning point. After a 2-day test in Barcelona, the dominating outfit from 2021 was back in shape.
Ferandez and his teamcelebrating a win – Image provided by Motorsport Images
“Since we’ve been in Europe, everything has been going well on the track – especially since our fourth place in Jerez and the victory at Le Mans. […] Now, we are where we belong.”
Being asked about his personal season highlight so far, Fernandez explains: “All wins were great. But if I had to pick one, it would be the German Grand Prix. The whole weekend in Germany was great because we were consistently at the top and did a great job.”
