Remy Gardner can’t be far from joining the select seven-strong group of father-son GP winners – which includes Valentino Rossi. But the 21-year-old, whose never-give-up riding style demonstrates that the apple has not fallen far from the tree, has his eyes on a greater distinction … to join the Roberts family as the second father-son World Champions.
Second in Argentina was the Sydney-sider’s first podium, and the first for the family since 500cc champion Wayne finished second in the South African GP in 1992. Remy, whose career has been assiduously fostered by Wayne, races with the number 87, commemorating dad’s 1987 World Championship.
Remy made his GP debut in 2014 in Moto3, and achieved a best of tenth in the starter class before moving to Moto2 part-way through 2016 as replacement rider in the ill-favoured Tasca team, scoring points just twice.
Remy Gardner, Moto2 race. Argentine MotoGP 2019
For the next two years, he rode the Tech3 Mistral chassis, in a good team but on a sub-standard bike. He went better in the wet. But a single top ten in 2017 was scant reward. Worse was to follow last year, suffering major fractures to both legs in a heavy motocross training crash, missing three races before a heroic return to the points in Catalunya. But the top ten remained frustratingly elusive, in spite of some strong rides.
The switch to Triumph power this year coincided with a move to the class-leading Kalex chassis, and renewed hopes …and renewed frustration, when he missed the podium at Qatar, beaten to third on the run to the line by Marcel Schrotter by little more than the width of a tyre.
It left him furious, and revenge in Argentina was sweet.
Remy Gardner, Baldassarri, Alex Marquez, Moto2 race, Argentine MotoGP 2019
“For the last two years … I’m not going to bag anybody, but we didn’t have the best equipment,” he said, after the race. The new chassis and the new engine had transformed his chances.
“The fast guys still go fast, but the Triumph engine is more torquey, more MotoGP style. You still have to carry corner speed, but there’s a touch more squaring up the corners, which I like. So that is in playing in my favour,” he said.
Remy Gardner, Moto2 race, Argentine MotoGP 2019
“Also everything is new and everyone has to adapt pretty fast. I think there will be some races where one or two guys will be really fast because they’ve found a little trick, whether it is to do with engine braking or changing the mapping – so there’s a bit more of an opportunity for, let’s say, up and coming riders.
“Also for heavier riders. I’m no feather. I don’t have the body for Moto3 or Moto2. I’m built for big bikes, but we’re still there and still doing it. We did lose a bit of straight line speed today, but I was able to compensate on the brakes and in the corners.”
The first podium had been a long time coming, he thought. “It’s kind of like I expected to be here, so I’m not surprised. But it’s a feeling of euphoria.”
Gardner, Argentine Moto2 race 2019
As for the horrendous injuries last year: “ On the bike I don’t even notice them. I can’t go running marathons, but I have started running again, seven or eight kilometres.
“I’m getting back. I still have all the titanium in there, the 99 screws and plates and rods. Hopefully at the end of the year it will all be coming out. Until then, it’s not annoying me.
“We’re going to have some races – like Texas, I’m never really quick there, but I’m going with an open mind. At the beginning of the season our goal was top tens. I said top sevens, and now let’s say top fives.”
And beyond that, a chance to follow in his father’s footsteps in MotoGP.
Fellow-Australian Jack Miller was among the first to congratulate Remy directly after the race. “It’s great to have another Australian coming up, and I hope he has a good party tonight,” he said.
Remy Gardner, Moto2 race, Argentine MotoGP 2019
By Michael Scott
Photos GnG