MotoGP Mandalika Test: Gardner ‘still exploring, scared to crash’

Remy Gardner is continuing to get to grips with his Tech3 KTM MotoGP despite the ongoing limitations of his broken wrist.

The Moto2 Champion completed 69 laps of the 4.3kms Mandalika Circuit on Saturday, bringing his tally so far this weekend to 133. No mean feat having undergone surgery to pin his right wrist in mid-January and on a tricky surface which leaves zero margin for error.

“I’m a little bit scared to kind of explore the extremities for sure because the last thing I need right now is a crash - especially a stupid one from just a bit of dirt or something that’s on the track” Gardner said of the perilous conditions of MotoGP’s newest circuit.

“It’s tough, we made some good steps today but still need to make more. Seems like we found a little bit of a direction which is good, but ran out of time in the end, because at midday it’s just kind of pointless going out there and riding as the track is over 60 degrees on temp.

“It’s hard work at the moment, especially with this track not being perfect.

“Today we did I think nearly 69 laps/70 laps, something like that. For sure it’s gonna be sore tomorrow,” he continued, of his ongoing rehabilitation. “Let’s see. It’s definitely a physical track as well, lots of change of directions, fast change of directions. I definitely feel there’s some spots where me changing the direction of the bike, I’m struggling a little bit to do it fast enough. Maybe it’ll be okay but maybe there’ll just be less laps and just finish it off in a good way.”

With only five days of testing allocated to the MotoGP grid ahead of the 2022 season start, alongside an extra three to assist the rookies getting up to speed, Gardner’s injury has thrown an extra spanner in the works as the Australian tries