MotoGP Sepang Shakedown: Gardner ‘keeping smooth’ to manage wrist injury

An injury-hit Remy Gardner is taking his approach to MotoGP promotion steadily in 2022 as the Australian joins the Tech3 KTM squad.

With last season concluding later than normal, and with both broken ribs and wrist to contend with through the winter, preparation has been somewhat stunted for the Moto2 Champion as he prepares for the premier class.

Shakedown testing in Malaysia however, is going ‘smoothly’ for the 23-year-old, with consistent yet improving 2’01 pace shown across the opening two days at the Sepang International Circuit.

“Today has been a really positive day,” Gardner said on Tuesday’s conclusion. “I am starting to feel better on the bike, we made some changes, some positive changes.

“Still trying to deal with my wrist at the moment but it’s not so bad. The second half of the day was more difficult and was hurting more. Anyway, these days are for testing things, and keeping smooth so I’m happy and I can’t wait for tomorrow.

“It was a fast winter to be honest,” he explained before the test action got going. “I think the fastest one yet especially in December I was pretty flat out with media commitments and stuff, it flew by pretty quick to be honest.

“With the wrist, I was just riding some motocross and trying to do my training and get prepared. I didn’t crash I just kind of, as I came down on the front of the bike a little bit more I just bottomed the forks, because I ran them quite soft. I just had my wrist in a little bit of a weird position, and when it bottomed I just felt it crack as soon as it hit the bottom. Moved it round and I was like ‘Fuck, that’s broken’, so not good. But anyway, shit happens.

“It’s the radius bone, the big one basically. Just the tip. It’s pretty much like a straight break,