GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 returned to European soil on Friday in Jerez for the fourth round of the MotoGP™ World Championship at the good old Circuito de Jerez – Àngel Nieto. After scoring his first top 10 in the category, rookie Augusto Fernandez from Spain was excited to race on home turf in front of family, friends and fans. After his terrific return to MotoGP™ in Texas with a P12, German Jonas Folger was lining up again alongside Fernandez, with Pol Espargaro still recovering from his injuries at home.

The Spanish layout is one that Augusto Fernandez knows very well and has found memories from. The GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 rider took his maiden GP podium here in 2019, finishing P3 in Moto2™. This year, a new challenge was awaiting the Spaniard on a more powerful machine. If the challenge was not enough already, mother earth added some spice as hot air from north Africa traveling across the Iberian peninsula and the Balearic islands has brought April record breaking temperatures in Andalusia, with 27 degrees already in the air at 10:45 local time. In Practice 1, the Spaniard rode his fastest lap in 1’38.278 (+1.508) for his first time on the track in MotoGP™. If he did not manage to improve his lap times in the afternoon, he gained more confidence on both the track and the bike at the end of the Practice 2, and will head to Saturday eager to do a good qualifying at home, before the Tissot Sprint in the afternoon.

German Jonas Folger was once again part of the adventure with GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 after his great comeback in Austin two weeks ago. Jerez is a circuit which he has always cherished in his previous career, and he was happy to be back racing in Andalusia on the RC16. As he continued to adapt to the machine, he completed nineteen laps in Practice 1 and registered his fastest lap in 1’39.545. In the afternoon, track temperatures showed 49 degrees, but it did not prevent Jonas from improving his lap times, despite the tough track conditions. He rode his fastest lap in 1’38.698, an encouraging progress for Espargaro’s substitute. Happy about the progress made today, he will look forward to his second qualifying day on Saturday, which will be followed by the Tissot Sprint at 15:00 (GMT+2), for twelve laps.