february 21, 2024 - Gas Gas Factory Racing
Red Bull Gasgas Tech3 finalize MotoGP™ season prep at Qatar test
Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 made their final tweaks and adjustments under the glaring lights of the Lusail International Circuit to wrap the 2024 ‘testing’ phase of the fresh MotoGP campaign. Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernandez went through a checklist of preparation work for the racing year and had time to record the 15th and 21st fastest laps from the sessions in Qatar.
- A second blast of MotoGP ‘education’ for double world champ Pedro Acosta in 2024 with two long but fast and productive days at Lusail and the 15th fastest lap
- Augusto Fernandez gets his rhythm going with the GASGAS RC16, improves his feeling with the 2024 configuration and sets a chrono under the fastest lap from the 2023 GP
- Time for the calm before the storm: 2024 MotoGP will return to Qatar at the beginning of next month in the chase for points and prizes
Qatar resumed a familiar status as the launchpad of another MotoGP campaign with the second pre-season test of the calendar year and two more days of important setup and familiarization duties for the Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 crew. The Lusail International Circuit staged the penultimate round of the 2023 series last November but is back to the position of opening the series for 2024 and the first of 21 Grands Prix over the next ten months. Augusto Fernandez and Pedro Acosta racked-up the laps at the track a short distance north of the Qatari capital city in the afternoon and evening sessions on Monday and Tuesday. Fernandez found a positive flow on his GASGAS RC16 to discover improvements and a refined setting after initial work in Malaysia two weeks ago. Rookie Acosta rounded Lusail more than any other rider on the first day as his acclimatization to MotoGP continues at high pace. Tuesday was more about race simulations, confirmation of the homologated parts necessary for the 2024 term and one eye on the conditions and pace for the GP to come. The combined times for both days saw Fernandez place 21st and Acosta in 15th. Acosta already had the confidence to lap under the best recorded time from the 2023 Grand Prix as did Fernandez and both pitched the highest total of laps on Tuesday with a combined total of 155.
MotoGP heads home and back to respective bases but only for two weeks. The series will journey back to Doha and Lusail for the Grand Prix of Qatar from March 8-10 to get the championship underway, and GASGAS will add a bright red touch to the grid for what will be only the brand’s second attempt at the premier class. Pedro Acosta, 15th position: “Very happy. We are on the way. We learned a lot and there is a lot still ahead. Our first race simulation was good. We are missing a bit with the lap-time, but we know that is not my strong point at the moment but we’re coming. We are making huge steps.” Augusto Fernandez, 21st position: “Pre-season done and it’s been hard sometimes but I have to say Qatar went better and we worked well. I gained more understanding, and we are getting closer. Our pace was a bit better as well. We’ll keep pushing this way. Now for the real thing: let’s go racing.” Nicolas Goyon, Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 Team Manager:“We feel ready and we’re looking forward to the first race. Both riders completed a massive amount of work and Pedro shined in the light of Qatar. He keeps impressing with the lap-times and ticked all the boxes for the material to try. He also did a full race simulation, which was decent for a 19-year-old rookie. On the other side of the garage Augusto’s target was to regain some confidence and I feel this was mission accomplished for him. He found some good directions, especially with the new aero package that gave him some extra feeling. He is on the road to making progress. We’re looking forward to coming back here in two weeks!” Sebastian Risse, GASGAS Technical Manager: “Today was our last test day with GASGAS. We did a lot of work with both riders, sharing ideas from Sepang and confirming them. We found a good common direction and with Pedro again we had a huge and fast learning curve. He was competitive both days. With Augusto we found some improvements and therefore some confidence and we’re ready for the start of the season now.” Grab Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 photographs from Lusail HERE Lusail official test final combined times 1. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati 1:50.9522. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Ducati +0.1203. Aleix Espargaro (ESP) Aprilia +0.30815. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 1:52.04621. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 1:52.770 PRESS CONTACT EVANGELIA SISSISGASGAS BRAND & PR MANAGER ROAD RACING
M: +43 676 6652 742
E: Evangelia.sissis@gasgas.com
Augusto Fernandez 2024 Qatar test-4
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Pedro Acosta Moto2 2024 Qatar test
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Augusto Fernandez 2024 Qatar test
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