English
Italiano
For Raul Fernandez, the new MotoGP adventure has just begun, and he still has to take it all in. After two days of testing in Jerez last November, he had the winter to prepare himself as best he could. Next Monday, he’ll be in Sepang to start his 2022 in the premier class.
"When you are a young rider, you never can imagine that this moment can come true. Now I can say that I am a MotoGP rider and, for me, it’s an incredible feeling. Sometimes I it’s unbelievable. We will have another rookie season. I need to learn all the category, step by step, day by day, and we will see what happens," Raul said.
What did last year leave you?
"It was incredible, the last season in Moto2. I was a rookie, I was the rider with the most victories. But anyway, when I ended the season, I don’t think about those results, but only that I lost the championship for four points. Now, I was really focused to prepare the 2022 season. Sometimes I think a little bit, and I say ‘it was a fantastic season for me’. This is the past, I have to see to the future."
Do you think people expect a lot from you?
“Sometimes people, last season, forgot that I was a rookie. The people put more pressure on me, because they wanted me to win. This pressure I like because I put all my concentration, all my body to do my best. Now, it is a completely different category. I will have to adapt. Maybe this season is a little bit different season than last season. I will prepare with my personal trainer like the last two seasons, and I hope the results will be the same."
How has your training changed?
"In Moto3, it was really difficult because I am a big boy. I cannot eat. Later, in Moto2 it was more my category, but I couldn't train like now. I couldn0t gain too much weight. Now I start to train with more weights in the gym, to build muscle. The first two days of testing with the MotoGP. Physically, it was incredible. I was super tired."
Do you have a goal in mind for 2022?
"I want to fight for the rookie of the year. Now, I don't want to think about one goal. Now it’s time to prepare more with the team, understand the bike. When we will go to Qatar, maybe we can say what the target is to stay in the MotoGP."
What do you expect from this season?
"I never did twenty-one races in one championship. I don't know about the tracks, and it will be a little more difficult. We have to prepare everything, race by race, without losing the correct way."
How valuable is it to be able to take advantage of the experience of Dani Pedrosa and your crew chief Esteban Garcia?
"For me, it's incredible. I remember when I was a really young rider, I was in Jerez, and he won in the MotoGP category, now he stays with us, and it's nice to work with people like Dani or like Esteban. They bring their experience, and I think it's the best combination for us."
How do you like the Tech3?
"It’s amazing to have a factory team behind you. It’s a small team, a family team. The pressure isn’t too much. It’s time to learn. I'm really happy."
At the end of 2022, you will be satisfied if...
"If I take the rookie of the season, I will be really happy. But, in one season, anything can happen. Last season was the same. I said, ‘hey, If I am rookie of the season, I will be really happy’…,” he laughed.
