Tech3 GASGAS Factory Racing rolled out of a MotoGP pitbox for the very first time today with a busy, sunny and fascinating first ‘look ahead’ test towards the 2023 world championship! Valencia’s blue skies were the perfect ceiling for Pol Espargaro and Augusto Fernandez debut ‘Get on the Gas’ experience.
Spanish brand, Spanish stars, Spanish circuit: there was a big and celebratory Iberian flavour to GASGAS’ debut at Valencia and where Moto2™ world champions Pol Espargaro (in 2014) and Augusto Fernandez (crowned only 48 hours previously) took to the track to get acquainted with the fetching bikes in black and red testing livery.
After his first run, Espargaro was gesturing wildly and tapping the fuel tank of the bike; #44 was obviously pumped to feel the full potential of the GASGAS MotoGP package. Pol logged 75 laps and the 16th best time by the end of his first day of work with the crew. Fernandez’ normally wide grin was stretched to the absolute limit after his maiden blast of MotoGP power. The 2022 Moto2 #1 used all of Tuesday (79 laps) to scratch new boundaries around the Ricardo Tormo Circuit and offer a few pointers towards his preferences and settings for the race bike.
The first dance was brief but fully blurred! GASGAS will now accelerate back in the factory to chisel the newest version of the Grand Prix prototypes for next year. MotoGP gets a three month break before reassembling at Sepang in Malaysia on February 10th-12th for more testing ahead of the longest ever season on record.
Augusto Fernandez: “It’s been an awesome day. I have been working hard to get used to all the new things. The GASGAS is very different to a Moto2 bike and there are a lot of electronics and things to understand. We didn’t change much. We just went step-by-step and did laps and laps and laps to get familiar with what we have. For sure I need to train in a different way this winter because the bike asks different things of the body! We’ll have to focus on that. MotoGP is, for sure, more demanding. Anyway, I’m happy to have the feedback from the bike and to get my first impressions. I cannot wait until the next session already.”
Valencia Official testing times
1. Luca Marini (ITA) Ducati 1:30.032
2. Maverick Viñales (ESP) Aprilia +0.225
3. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Ducati +0.230
4. Miguel Oliveira (POR) Aprilia +0.335
5. Aleix Espargaro (ESP) Aprilia +0.366
16. Pol Espargaro (ESP) Tech3 GASGAS Factory Racing Team +0.725
22. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) Tech3 GASGAS Factory Racing Team +1.698