Fernandez “angry” after 2024 season but vows to be back in MotoGP

Outgoing Tech3 rider Augusto Fernandez has revealed he is “angry” as a poor 2024 season led to him losing his MotoGP seat - but is confident he can make a comeback in the future.

Fernandez struggled for speed in his sophomore campaign with KTM’s satellite squad, finishing 20th out of 22 full season riders with just 27 points scored.

It marked a notable drop in performance compared to his rookie year, when he achieved a respectable total of 71 points and finished as high as fourth at the French Grand Prix.

The slump contributed to KTM’s decision to drop him from its MotoGP line-up after just two seasons, leaving him to pursue a test rider opportunity with Yamaha from 2025.

The 27-year-old said he tried his best to adapt to the GasGas-branded RC16 in 2024, but could not reach a point where he felt competitive on the bike.

“It wasn't meant to be,” Fernandez said of his 2024 campaign. “This year was just a combination of a lot of things

Augusto Fernandez, Tech3 GASGAS Factory Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

"Maybe the bike was not down for my style, I tried to adapt myself to [the bike]. I can change my style. 

“I'm not the rider [who says] this is not my style and all these things. I work a lot and this is my job and this is my life, so at home I just work to be fast on whatever bike I'm on. 

“I tried to adapt my style to every bike I'm riding, but we didn't do it here [in 2024]. I tried but we didn't get to a competitive base at any point. 

“Of course [it’s] frustrating, of course I'm angry because of the season and everything.”

Fernandez’s forthcoming switch to Yamaha had been an open secret in the paddock for several months, but it was only this week that the Japanese marque officially announced the move.

The 2022 Moto2 champion will join Yamaha in several official and private tests next year, while also getting the opportunity to contest select MotoGP races as a wildcard.

Augusto Fernandez, Yamaha Racing

Photo by: Yamaha Motor Racing

Fernandez hopes his new job will allow him to show what he is capable of and ultimately earn a return to the competition in the coming years.

“My career keeps going in a different way than [I] expected [it to go] but it keeps going. So I'm still alive,” he said.

“I will be back, I'm 100% sure. So I keep working, keep working hard and maintain the level on a MotoGP bike.

“I'm not done. So I'm looking forward to this next chapter. I'm sure I will be back.

“It's just different because we never see a test rider coming back competitive. It's not usual but I will do it. I'm happy with what is coming, looking forward [to it].”