**”Yamaha’s Strategic Move: Why Appointing KTM Outcast Augusto Fernandez as MotoGP Test Rider is a Win-Win”**

Why Yamaha's Interest in a Former KTM Racer for MotoGP Testing is Logical

Augusto Fernandez has faced challenges in his MotoGP racing career, yet a testing position with Yamaha could benefit both him and the team.

Yamaha is actively working on its revival strategy to return to the leading position in MotoGP. With team manager Lin Jarvis set to leave at the end of this year, he has managed several crucial aspects critical to Yamaha's future ambitions.

The initial step was locking in 2021 world champion Fabio Quartararo with a fresh contract extending until the conclusion of 2026. This decision came with a hefty price tag, as Quartararo is slated to receive €12 million annually. Nonetheless, this expenditure is expected to be a valuable investment.

After completing 10 rounds, Quartararo has easily outperformed his fellow riders on Japanese bikes, securing the 14th position in the rankings with 49 points. This places him 35 points ahead of Johann Zarco, who rides for LCR Honda.

Yamaha has ensured stability within its team by signing a new two-year contract with Alex Rins. Securing a satellite partner, especially after RNF chose to collaborate with Aprilia in late 2022, is a key step for Yamaha to accelerate its development.

After Ducati was unsuccessful in persuading Marc Marquez to join Pramac and ride a factory Desmosedici, Pramac has decided to partner with Yamaha as its satellite team for the next season. Although no riders have been officially announced, several notable contenders from within MotoGP, such as Miguel Oliveira and Jack Miller, as well as from Moto2, have been associated with the team.

The recent developments stem from significant staff changes made during the winter, most notably the addition of Max Bartolini, who previously worked closely with Gigi Dall’Igna at Ducati. Yamaha has welcomed this essential cultural shift, which has given them hope for the future.

Over recent years, Yamaha has intensified its test team activities by recruiting three-time grand prix victor Cal Crutchlow following his retirement from racing at the conclusion of 2020, and by increasing the number of tests performed outside Japan.

Earlier this season, Quartararo had already urged for increased investment in the testing program, especially given the uncertainty surrounding Yamaha's satellite team for 2025.

When asked about the possibility of not having a satellite Yamaha team next year, Quartararo responded, "A disaster? No." This statement was made before Pramac finalized its agreement with the Japanese brand. He added, "However, I believe it would be the right time to invest more in the test team."

"Having an additional rider with Crutchlow and increasing the number of bikes and personnel would be beneficial. Ideally, having a satellite team is preferable, but the progress we've achieved with the race team from last year to this year is remarkable. Perhaps it's time to make similar advancements with our test team as well."

According to the current regulations, Yamaha is allowed to conduct in-season testing with its race riders. Crutchlow plays a crucial role in this process, but his testing duties have been limited this year due to a hand injury and subsequent complications from surgery.

During the British Grand Prix weekend, es.motorsport.com reported that Yamaha is considering signing Augusto Fernandez as a full-time test rider for the 2025 season.

Remy Gardner, who filled in for injured riders at the German and British Grand Prix events, is reportedly favored by the Japanese manufacturer. However, Gardner, the Australian rider, downplayed this possibility at Silverstone, expressing that balancing a World Superbike season with a MotoGP testing position might not be a good idea.

In Gardner's opinion, pursuing that idea might be counterproductive. He pointed out that the two bikes are entirely different. While he is confident he could eventually perform well, switching from one bike to another each week would make it difficult to concentrate on a single championship.

Fernandez, aged 26, will lose his spot with KTM at Tech3 after this season due to underperformance, failing to earn a contract renewal for a third year. The 2022 Moto2 world champion has faced significant challenges in MotoGP throughout the past season and a half.

His first season riding the challenging KTM bike was made more difficult by the absence of his seasoned team-mate, Pol Espargaro. Espargaro endured severe injuries during a practice crash in the opening round of the 2023 season and was sidelined until the British Grand Prix in August.

Achieving a personal best of fourth place at Le Mans and securing three additional top 10 finishes in grand prix races demonstrated his potential. As a result, KTM decided to retain him for the 2024 season. However, he only managed to accumulate 15 points over the first 10 races, with his highest finish being 11th in Portugal, which was insufficient to secure a contract for 2025. Given the limited racing opportunities in both MotoGP and World Superbikes, transitioning to a Yamaha test rider role might be a prudent move for Fernandez.

From Yamaha's perspective, he might be just the person needed to advance the project.

Although Fernandez might not be as distinguished a rider as some of the testers Yamaha has hired in recent years, such as Crutchlow, Jorge Lorenzo, and even Jonas Folger, he still competes at a sufficiently high level to provide valuable feedback.

Examining all the qualifying sessions in the first quarter of this season, his average lag behind the fastest time is 0.863 seconds over the first 10 rounds. Being within a second of the top riders in a testing environment is precisely the performance a manufacturer desires. Test riders aren't expected to outperform regular racers; they just need to be fast enough to effectively evaluate new components.

Moving directly from racing to a testing position benefits Fernandez and Yamaha, as it ensures he stays adept and familiar with the latest MotoGP bikes. This experience will be particularly advantageous when he participates in wildcard races, where he may compete up to six times in 2025.

His understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the KTM will be an added advantage for Yamaha.

Furthermore, Yamaha expanding its lineup to four bikes in 2025 increases the likelihood of requiring a substitute rider due to injuries. At present, with Crutchlow sidelined by an injury, Yamaha had to bring Gardner from WSBK to fill in for Alex Rins at the Sachsenring. Initially, Gardner was set to take Crutchlow's wildcard spot at Silverstone, but he was eventually upgraded to Rins’ position after the Spanish rider pulled out because of his injury.

Gardner held his own, ending up 50.115 seconds behind the winner in Germany and 59.137 seconds off the lead in Britain. However, not scoring any points was not the best outcome for Yamaha. On the other hand, Fernandez has shown that he can achieve top 10 finishes when everything aligns, making him a reliable substitute if Yamaha requires one.

It's difficult to envision Fernandez securing a permanent MotoGP race seat after this season, but staying in the grand prix paddock as a test rider with occasional wildcard entries is a much better option for his future prospects than transitioning to a mid-tier position in WSBK.

As Michele Pirro and others at Ducati have demonstrated over time, it is possible to become an essential contributor to a MotoGP manufacturer's achievements even without being in the limelight…

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