Yamaha is holding dialogue with Tech3 outcast Augusto Fernandez so as to add him to an expanded MotoGP check staff in 2025, Motosport.com can reveal.
The Japanese marque has been dashing up the event of its MotoGP bike so as to bridge the hole to its European rivals and particularly Ducati, which is more and more pulling away from the remainder of the rivals.
First, it recruited a complete host of engineers and technicians from the Borgo Panigale marque, after which satisfied 2021 champion Fabio Quartararo to signal a brand new multi-year contract by way of to 2026.
Having since added Pramac as a satellite tv for pc staff from 2025 so as to discipline 4 bikes on the grid, it has now turned its consideration to the check staff, which has been held again this yr by the harm of Cal Crutchlow.
The British rider has been out of motion for fairly some time attributable to ache in his hand, which required surgical procedure to repair, limiting Yamaha’s potential to take advantage of out of MotoGP’s new concession system.
Crutchlow was additionally compelled to overlook his residence grand prix final week, which he had been attributable to compete in as a wildcard, dealing a further blow to Yamaha’s hopes.
This has prompted the producer to search for a second rider inside its check staff who might work alongside veteran Crutchlow subsequent yr.
“We wish to strengthen the check staff and signal a rider, however we’re not fascinated about a veteran or a retired rider. We wish a younger man who desires to do numerous laps and we will profit from the testing that the concessions permit us,” Maio Meregalli, Yamaha’s sporting director, advised Motorsport.com at Silverstone.
“That doesn’t imply that we are going to not have Crutchlow, who will proceed to be a part of the staff and can return to motion when he recovers.”
Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Manufacturing unit Racing
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photos
Yamaha’s first choice is believed to be the younger Remy Garnder, who competes with the Iwata-based model within the World Superbike Championship and changed Crutchlow as its wildcard entrant within the British GP.
He ended up substituting for full-timer Alex Rins after the Spaniard withdrew from the weekend attributable to lingering accidents from his crash within the Dutch GP on the finish of June.
The issue is that the Australian just isn’t a lot in favour of turning into a full-time check rider, though Yamaha has not utterly dominated out present process additional negotiations with him so as to persuade him for that function.
Whereas a ultimate determination is awaited on Gardner, the Japanese marque has revealed that it’s also holding conversations with 2022 Moto2 champion Fernandez, who’s presently within the second season with the GasGas-branded Tech3 staff in MotoGP.
Having not been retained by the broader KTM group, the Spaniard doesn’t have a spot on the 2025 grid, and his choices in WSBK are additionally restricted.
Yamaha is known to have provided him the possibility to stay within the MotoGP paddock subsequent yr as a check rider – a possibility that might embody five-to-six wildcard outings relying upon Crutchlow’s restoration.
Fernandez, 26, himself admitted that he was holding dialogue with Yamaha a few testing function for 2025.
“We’re speaking to them. If nothing seems on this paddock or in SBK, which is troublesome, it’s a good exit for me,” he advised Motorsport.com. “I’m all the time fascinated about a possibility to develop as a rider to return to a full-time staff sooner or later.”
