Reigning Moto2 champion Remy Gardner says KTM have ‘broken my heart’ by leaving him without a MotoGP seat for 2023.
The Australian, son of 1987 500cc world champion Wayne Gardner, admitted his premier-class future was suddenly looking very bleak at the end of the recent Red Bull Ring event.
Upon arrival at Misano on Thursday, Gardner confirmed that he now has to look at possibilities outside of the premier-class:
“Nothing is clear at the moment… But I’m not going to be in MotoGP.”
The news that KTM was not going to take up its option on Gardner had been delivered to the shocked 24-year-old on Saturday in Austria.
“Wasn’t expecting it to be honest. I’ve always given 100% and unfortunately I don’t think it was good enough,” he said.
Asked about the reason given by KTM for its decision, Gardner replied: “They said I was not professional enough.”
With team-mate and fellow rookie Raul Fernandez leaving for RNF Aprilia, Gardner’s place alongside new signing Pol Espargaro had looked to be safe.
That was also Gardner’s impression.
“The feeling was and the impression was like, yeah, we should continue and in Austria we’ll get it done… I don’t know, I’m just as confused [by it].”
The first public signs that Gardner was in trouble came when Pit Beirer revealed the factory would be making another late bid to try and keep Miguel Oliveira, to partner the returning Espargaro.
But even before the Portuguese made his final decision, ultimately turning down the GASGAS offer and signing for RNF Aprilia, Gardner had been informed he was out.
“I felt like I always gave my 100% for them [KTM]. My intention was to stay here and give my best and honestly, they’ve broken my heart,” Gardner said.
“I felt like maybe there’s not an appreciation for the [Moto2] world championship I brought them as well.
“I was just giving my best all the time and I guess it wasn’t good enough.
“Anyway, I’m just going to continue giving my 100%, but for nobody except myself and obviously the people who work with me.”
Gardner: ‘Enjoy what’s left of my MotoGP career’
Gardner has scored 9 points so far this season compared to 5 for Fernandez, with a best race result of 11th compared with 12th for the young Spaniard.
While factory KTM riders Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder have 85 and 107 points respectively, Gardner feels he has not been far from the pair in terms of the lap time and data analysis.
“I think it hasn’t been a disaster. I mean if you have a look at the times and everything and how close I am to the factory guys, usually,” he said. “It’s still my first year! It’s Miguel’s fourth year in MotoGP.
“I honestly think it was not bad and honestly it was positive vibes from them [KTM]. But yeah, we got to Austria and it’s basically ‘you’re out’.
“They’ve told me extremely late… So it’s left me in a bit of a crappy position for finding a seat next year.
Gardner: ‘It sucks. But what are you going to do?’
“It sucks. But what are you going to do? There are a few races left so you can just go out, do your best and enjoy what’s left of my MotoGP career.
“It’s definitely hard to take. After fighting so many years and with a lot of injuries and fighting with not maybe the best machinery and then finally managed to actually kick a goal and win a championship… To just have only one year in MotoGP breaks my heart.
“I just feel a little bit deceived by the world of motorcycles at the moment. That’s why I’m not really sure even what I want to do next year.”
But Gardner, now being linked with a possible return to Moto2 or switch to WorldSBK, confirmed he will race somewhere next season.
“It just hurts more that they’ve left me out in the street, basically, at this time when there are no rides left.
“Obviously I want to try and find a good ride for next year. Keep racing for sure.
“I do have a few offers to stay in this paddock, obviously not in MotoGP, but we’ll have to see.”
Augusto Fernandez, who joined the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 team after Gardner and Fernandez moved to MotoGP, is now tipped to partner Pol Espargaro at Tech3 in 2023.
The only other MotoGP seats still to be officially confirmed are at VR46 Ducati, which will keep both Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi, plus the remaining LCR Honda ride, set to go to either Takaaki Nakagami or Ai Ogura.