After a well deserved rest day in Tokyo on Monday following the Grand Prix of Japan, Tech3 KTM Factory Racing is now heading to Thailand for the final race of the MotoGP triple-header.
Just like Japan, the last time the MotoGP paddock raced at the Chang International Circuit was back in 2019, so the challenge will be the same as the previous week. In addition to not having raced here in three years, both Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez will try it for the first time on a MotoGP bike. On the weather side, the rainy season is currently ongoing meaning that it is very likely that the track conditions will be extremely wet, an additional challenge to face this weekend, which could potentially redistribute the cards though and allow KTM rookies to get closer to the others. Both Remy and Raul are coming from a positive race in Motegi, but the target will be the points on Sunday, and a good qualifying will be key if they want to achieve their goals.
The schedule will be back to a normal race weekend this week as the action is scheduled to start on Friday at 10:50 (GMT+7) with the first free practice session followed by FP2 in the afternoon at 15:05 local time. On Saturday, the day will start with Free Practice 3 at 10:50 for forty-five minutes, before the final chance to practice with FP4 at 14:25. Qualifying sessions will follow immediately from 15:05 (GMT+7). The Thailand Grand Prix, the seventeenth round of the 2022 calendar, is scheduled at 15:00 (GMT+7) for twenty-six laps on Sunday.
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Remy Gardner
Championship: 23rd
Points: 9
"It has been a while since we have not been to Thailand, just like Japan. So we will have to adapt again to the track, and with a MotoGP bike in addition. It looks like we might get some rain which can help us, so we will see what we can do!"
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Raul Fernandez
Championship: 24th
Points: 8
"We just did a good race in Japan and the feelings were very good, especially towards the end with used tyres. It will be interesting for us to go to Thailand. It is another one where the paddock has not been for a while, so we will have to adapt to the track, but from what I remember from it, we should be ok. I am enjoying this Asian tour, so we will head to Thailand very motivated and with a lot of positivity, and this is how we can get a good result."
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Hervé Poncharal
Team Manager
"We are already in Buriram, Thailand, the second race in Asia following the Grand Prix of Japan where Tech3 KTM Factory Racing’s riders both did a decent race as they finished very close to each other after a good little battle.
We don’t really know what to expect from the Thailand Grand Prix, as the last time we came here was back in 2019, so of course the KTM RC16 has changed a lot since then, as did the tyres. It is currently the rainy season so the weather forecast is already announcing difficult track conditions. We are getting ready to face a fully wet track this weekend, although we might get a few hours a day of dry weather but this is all we will get I think. Both Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez seem to enjoy riding in the rain, so it could benefit us this weekend.
I would like to continue passing on the message to our riders that Brad Binder’s and Miguel Oliveira’s results in Motegi should be a real source of motivation. They should be a real boost to us, and we need to be coming to the garage with a positive state of mind, and the results will come. Like we say in Thai, ไปเหอะ (Let’s go)."
