MotoGP, Augusto Fernandez: "I have a signed contract in 2024 with KTM but I don't know anything else"

The halfway point of the season, the Austrian GP will be a particularly important round for the riders astride the KTM R16, who are preparing to face the home round of the manufacturer from Mattighofen. It’s a deeply felt weekend for the GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 team rider, Augusto Fernandez, who arrived at Spielberg without yet having completely clear ideas about what awaits him next year.

“I have a contract and it’s 100% signed, but I don’t know anything else. I think we’ll hear soon but I don’t know. We’ll see” commented the 25-year-old, guaranteeing that he had received confirmation of the extension of his annual contract, with an option for a second year.

With five riders under contract and only four bikes currently available for 2024, the Pierer Mobility Group is preparing to play the game of musical chairs: “I have one, I don’t know where, but I have one!” Augusto played things down, albeit saying he was satisfied with the results achieved in this first half of the championship.

“I'm quite happy with my season. Obviously, I want more, we all want better results, but I think the work we're doing is great and it's going well so far - he admitted - This track hasn't been the best for me in the past, due to its layout, though I hope to do well this year. It would be important, because this is a very important Grand Prix for the Pierer Mobility Group."

Although not particularly at ease on the Red Bull Ring track, in Moto2 the Spaniard managed to score a podium and two Top 5s in the last four editions of the Grand Prix, and he hopes to continue his positive streak in the Top Class as well.

“I usually struggle a lot and lose a lot in acceleration. I hope that the power of the MotoGP bike will compensate for my size and that this will allow me to be more competitive" said Fernandez, who in Austria will also have to beware of the unknown factor represented by the tyre pressure: "We already started to raise the pressure at Silverstone, to make sure we are within the limits. We've been working with this pressure since Friday and the difference isn't that much compared to the past, but it is felt above all in the race. When you're riding alone it's not bad, but the problem is in the race because the pressure increases by being behind the other riders."