Moto2™ star Augusto Fernandez has been officially confirmed as a MotoGP™ rider in 2023 after being promoted to the GASGAS Factory Racing Team. The Spaniard will be the only rookie in next season's premier class, so ahead of his promotion get to know the 24-year-old a little better.
Fernandez was crowned Junior European Champion in 2014, before then competing in the Superstock 600 in 2015, where he achieved one victory. FIM CEV Repsol and the European Moto2™ Championship was his next adventure the following year, before being summoned by Speed Up to take his first steps in the Moto2™ World Championship just one year later. He made his debut at the 2017 Italian Grand Prix and went on to score six points throughout the season but couldn't find a seat for 2018.
Therefore, he returned to the European Moto2™ Championship and dominated. Five podiums, including a debut win, in the opening five races of the year caught the attention of Pons HP40, who asked him to replace Héctor Barberá. The Spaniard finished inside the top 8 three times, and even came close to a debut World Chammpionship podium at the Japanese GP.
2019 was his big turning point. Despite an initial injury that forced him to sit out Argentina and Austin, a debut podium at Jerez was quickly followed by another at Le Mans. Then came his first victory at Assen, with two more following at Silverstone and Misano as a title challenge loomed. However, no podiums in the last six races saw his season come to a fruitless end. He started 2020 as one of the favourites for the title, especially after filling the vacancy left by the Moto2™ World Champion, Alex Marquez, at EG 0,0 Marc VDS.
However, he failed to deliver on the expectation and finished a podium-less season in a frustrating 13th. No victories came in 2021 but we did see him return to form in the latter half of the season, taking six podiums in the final nine races. That form was enough for him to earn a seat with Red Bull KTM Ajo for 2022, where he's found a new level altogether. Four victories and two further podiums sees him sit atop of the World Championship with six races remaining, rightfully earning him a promotion to MotoGP™ next year.