Augusto Fernandez Explains Wildcard Value as 850cc Era Looms

Augusto Fernandez ended what looks set to be his final wildcard on the 1000cc Yamaha by scoring a point at Silverstone, thanks to Fabio Quartararo's post-race penalty. But more significant was that he finished just behind Toprak Razgatlioglu and set a best lap only half a second off the fastest race lap.

“It's been a tough weekend for us in general, but personally, I'm happy with the race,” said Fernandez. “I was able to close the gap with Toprak, so being close to another Yamaha is good for me. I was half a second from the fastest lap from Fabio, so these weekends are good for me to get back on the pace and be faster for our testing programme.”

With the 1000cc project now closed, Yamaha's focus shifts entirely to the 850cc machine for next season. Fernandez acknowledged that switching between bikes and tyres is confusing, but stressed that the base of both machines is the same, making the wildcards valuable for development.

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“We are trying to decide a base for next year's bike, so I've been trying things that we can also use for next year,” he explained. “Of course, it's confusing, especially for myself, because I struggle to be back on the pace immediately when switching back to the 1000cc bike and Michelin tyres. Especially on the first day, with the time attacks, it's something that adds to remembering how to use Michelin.”

Fernandez also emphasized that the wildcards were not just about development, but also about keeping his riding sharp. “I'm more or less back on the pace to keep trying things in a good way. That was the goal also, to do wildcards to keep my level high. I'm a real MotoGP rider, so work done,” he said.

Looking ahead, Fernandez revealed he has three 850cc tests planned before the Austrian round, where some MotoGP riders will get a second taste of next year's machinery. “We have a good program now of testing, so let's focus on that. I'm looking forward to it,” he concluded.