The Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto has been staging FIM world championship racing since 1987 and the short, demanding course is not only one of the most familiar layouts on the calendar but is annually surrounded by one of the loudest and most passionate crowds of the season. The Spanish Grand Prix is particularly significant for GASGAS and represented the first of a run of European events to the end of the summer.
Augusto Fernandez celebrated his first-ever career GP podium appearance at the track in 2019 (Moto2) and like many Spanish natives holds a special connection with the site. The 25-year-old rounded the 13 corners during practice and qualifying in MotoGP for the first time to take 11th in Q1 and therefore 21st on the grid. #37 managed 17th in the 12-lap Sprint on Saturday afternoon and as the mercury rose to almost 30 degrees in the afternoon. He was hindered by a blameless part in a multi-rider crash on Turn 2 that forced the red flag and a restart. Augusto then tried to plunder as many positions as possible on the re-run.
Augusto Fernandez, 21st in qualification, 17th in the Sprint:
“Crazy day! I was in a good spot in the first start but then I couldn’t avoid the crash. I lost a bit of confidence for the first couple of corners when we restarted. My pace is better than where I was on the track and I gradually started to feel better with the used tires. I need to take a bit more of a chance in the first laps tomorrow; it is risky, but I know I can be further forward and with the group further in front.”
