The 2024 MotoGP™ season started on Tuesday at the circuit Ricardo Tormo as the GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 welcomed new Moto2™ World champion and sensation Pedro Acosta amongst its ranks. Indeed, the now MotoGP™ rookie made his debuts on the GASGAS RC16 this morning as the world awaited his first steps in the main class during the much awaited end of season Valencia Test. Acosta reunited with his old teammate Augusto Fernandez who began his second season in MotoGP™ with the GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 squad.

He is not a rookie anymore! Augusto Fernandez officially became one of the ‘regulars’ as he started his second campaign in MotoGP™ at the Valencia Test. With now a complete season in the bag, there are many learnings to feed from in order to prepare for the new season ahead. Through the season, we were able to recognize Augusto’s strengths, but also his weaknesses, and these are the ones that the number 37 will need to address ahead of the 2024 season. Today, Fernandez focused mainly on aero parts currently used by his fellow Pierer Mobility teammates, Binder and Miller, as he aims to maximize his performances on the RC16. In addition, he had the 2024 Michelin specification to try at the front, and the feeling appeared to be positive for the rookie. 10:00 (GMT+1) was the official start of the Valencia Test, but few riders jumped on the track, as the morning temperatures were a bit too cold. After two hours of play, Fernandez sat in fourth of the standings with a best in 1’30.563 with seventeen laps complete, and by 14:00, he had ridden forty laps already. With the temperatures expected to go down quickly and early, there wasn’t much time for a lunch break after the rookie barely took out his leathers to grab a bite. Just like that, he was back to work as he continued to get the laps and the data in. Time attacks was not the priority today, but he started to get close to going below the 1’30 towards the end of the day, with a 1’30.077 on lap 66. (His qualifying lap on Saturday was a 1’29.230). Having gathered what needed to be gathered, Augusto Fernandez ended his day before the 5 o’clock checkered flag, and he completed this last official day on track of the year in P14, 0.824 seconds from the fastest man of the day, Maverick Vinales, with seventy-two laps completed.

On the other side of the garage, the new number 31 of MotoGP™, Pedro Acosta, did not disappoint on his first day in the main class. Born ready, the new rookie of the class headed on track shortly after 10am for everyone’s biggest satisfaction. Appearing super confident, his first laps were quite impressive, and he even treated himself directly with a little battle against Maverick Vinales. He was not impressed! Emotions were high after he returned to the pit box following his first run as he gave his first feedback of what riding a MotoGP™ bike looks like, but then the pressure calmed down and the work could get on for the day. Only one goal for the day: riding the bike. Getting the first feeling. Finding his marks. After one hour of play, he had done eight laps with a 1’33.259. Appearing to learn quickly, the next hour, he had taken his time down to 1’32.258 after nineteen laps. He rode another fifteen laps before taking a short lunch break after what we can call a really impressive morning. The work continued for the new sensation, and he continued to leave us voiceless as he was getting lower and lower in the turns after only a couple of hours on the bike! With one hour to go, Acosta had improved to 1’30.506, and then he took it down to 1’30.476. Impressive first day for the rookie who closed his first day in P18, just 1.223 seconds from the fastest man, with seventy laps in!

2024 looks tasty, and we will be here for it! See you in Sepang in February!