Fernandez: “Spielberg is not my favorite track, I don't know what to expect”

Seeking redemption

After the summer break of this championship, the Trackhouse team had to face some difficulties: above all the absence of Ai Ogura in the Aragon and San Marino GPs, with the Japanese rider following a rehabilitation program after the motocross accident that caused him to fracture his left thumb. However, if #79 successfully passes the medical examination scheduled for Thursday, the Japanese rider will be able to return regularly to the track for the Austrian Grand Prix.

Waiting for the ‘fit’

Eager to make his return, Ogura is ready to face the Spielberg challenge, which he also considers one of his favorite circuits: “I’m fine – he commented – I think the hand situation is better than I expected a week ago. I’m definitely excited to come back. I just want to start the weekend, see what we can do and where we stand. Nothing special. I just want to have a normal weekend. In the past, especially when I raced in Moto2, the track suited my riding style well. I was able to lap easily and get good times. Last year, however, things were a bit more complicated and I struggled a lot. I hope to do better this time, but this is the current situation. We’ll see. Raul is doing well – he concluded referring to his teammate – he’s in great shape. He definitely has the potential to fight for top positions, but maybe for me the situation is different. I missed two races and I need time to regain full confidence on the bike. Coming back to racing right after an injury and getting on the podium is not easy: so I expect a good race from Raul, but honestly not as much from myself.”

When the feeling isn’t there

Winner at Silverstone before the summer break, the last two races have not brought great satisfaction to Raul Fernandez, who will also face a circuit he does not particularly like: “It’s definitely not my favorite track – he admitted without beating around the bush – at Aragon I said I wasn’t particularly competitive; in Austria, however, I at least have some good memories from last year, as I think it was the first time I went well here, but I really don’t know what to expect. I don’t have a specific goal: I want to approach the weekend session by session. It’s not an easy track; it’s hard to understand where you can gain time, so it’s complicated to make predictions. I have to stay very focused to adapt my style to this type of track, since in the past I haven’t been competitive. If I want to be, I have to work harder.”

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