15.09.2022 |
WorldSBK staff |
WorldSBK

Reigning Moto2 World Champion Remy Gardner will swap MotoGP for WorldSBK when he joins the GRT Yamaha squad in 2023 to replace Garrett Gerloff.

Gardner has enjoyed a successful career in the Grand Prix paddock, which began with three wildcard entries in the 2014 Moto3 World Championship. After completing his first full season the following year, the Australian impressed on his Moto2 debut as a replacement rider at Barcelona, which saw him retained for the remaining 2016 rounds.

Gardner became a consistent points-scorer in the championship over the next few seasons, and in 2019 he scored a breakthrough podium with second in Argentina. In 2020, he was one of the Moto2 standouts, celebrating four podiums including a stunning maiden victory at the Portimão finale from pole position, ending the season sixth in the standings.

In 2021, Gardner enjoyed several exceptional performances, winning five times and taking 12 podiums, while he placed inside the top 10 in every race he finished. He was crowned the Moto2 World Champion at the Valencia finale, before being promoted to the premier MotoGP class for the 2022 season.

In his MotoGP rookie season, Gardner has demonstrated strong progression and a level of determination that will serve him well in 2023, as he takes on a new challenge aboard the race proven Yamaha R1 in the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team.

“Remy is an exciting young talent, who boasts an impressive career inside the Grand Prix paddock,” said Yamaha race boss Andrea Dosoli.

“We are obviously delighted to have a rider on board who’s not only shown great progression but has experience at the top level of motorcycle racing. We believe that he is the perfect fit for Yamaha’s WorldSBK programme and are keen to see what he can do on one of our R1 WorldSBK machines.

“We’d also like to thank Garrett Gerloff for his commitment to Yamaha these past three seasons and we wish him all the best for the future.”

Left ‘heartbroken’ by the news that he will not be part of KTM’s 2023 MotoGP line-up, Gardner faced a return to Moto2 or a switch to World Superbike.

On the eve of this weekend’s Aragon round, the Australian – son of 1987 500cc world champion Wayne Gardner – confirmed that he will join WorldSBK by riding for the GRT Yamaha team.

Gardner, 24, will take over from Garrett Gerloff, who is moving to the Bonovo BMW team.

“I’m looking forward to the new project for next year,” Gardner said. “It’s going to definitely be a big change for me, a lot of things to learn. New tyres and different class, different bikes, but having seen the races the last few months, it does look pretty fun.

“I’ve done five years in Moto2. Managed to be champion. For me, there was nothing really left to do there. I kind of wanted a new challenge and just something different to be honest.

“They [WorldSBK bikes] look really fun to ride. There’s a lot more passing going on than I think in MotoGP. So yeah, honestly looks pretty awesome.”

Asked if he is ready to battle given the kind of contact seen between title rivals Alvaro Bautista, Toprak Razgatlioglu and Jonathan Rea at Magny-Cours last weekend, Gardner added:

“Yeah, definitely. I always like a good scrap! Which is fun. I’m not complaining. I can get my elbows out!”

‘Part of me wants to come back and prove everybody wrong’

Asked whether his goal is now to try and get back into MotoGP as soon as possible or forge a long-term future in WorldSBK, Gardner replied:

“I don’t know if there’s going to be an opportunity to come back obviously. I don’t feel like I was kind of ready to go yet, I think I still could have done something quite positive here.

“But I’m not sure, honestly, I couldn’t answer that right now, because maybe I’ll like it so much in Superbikes I won’t even want to come back.

“There is a part of me that wants to come back and kind of prove everybody wrong. Especially you-know-who.”

He added: “Like I said, I don’t feel like my time was up in MotoGP. But unfortunately, that came to quite an abrupt end. But ask me next year and I’ll probably tell you I’m happy [to stay in WorldSBK]. More than anything I’m excited to start this new project.”

Gardner’s Tech3 KTM-to-WorldSBK move also mirrors the path of Iker Lecuona.

“Iker’s already been on the podium, so he’s been having some decent races [even though] I hear the Honda’s maybe not as competitive at the moment.

“I think the [Yamaha] package that we’ll have next year is not too bad. Hopefully, we can be up there fighting for podiums, which is ultimately what I want. I don’t want to be last anymore!”

A winner of six Moto2 races and the 2021 world title, Gardner has a best finish of eleventh during his 14 premier-class races to date.

Although just 23rd in the MotoGP standings, he is one point ahead of team-mate and fellow rookie Raul Fernandez, who is joining RNF Aprilia next year.

Gardner’s 2023 Tech3 replacement is still to be confirmed, with Moto2 title contender Augusto Fernandez hotly tipped to ride alongside Pol Espargaro.