Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1476967
ROUND 13 / AUGUST 19-21, 2022 RED BULL RING / SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA P88 MOTOGP I FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP lap, with rookie sensation Da- vid Munoz (BOE Motorsports) completing the podium in Aus- tria after posting the fastest lap of the race on the final lap after passing Deniz Oncu (Red Bull KTM Ajo). at one stage dropped him to 24th place. The Japanese rider eventu- ally beat compatriot Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) by less than a tenth as the podium fight came down to the final MOTO3 Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) produced a stunning comeback ride to win the Moto3 Grand Prix in Austria despite having a double long-lap penalty to contend with, which, RAUL NOT WELCOME After a staggering rookie campaign in Moto2 last year, many tipped Raul Fernandez to be the Rookie of the Year in 2023. But the Tech3 KTM man's year has been nothing short of disastrous. Not only have his results been terrible, scor- ing just five points in 12 races, his attitude has incurred the wrath of KTM's top brass. In an interview with German website Speedweek, KTM CEO Stefan Pierer said the Spaniard's working environment is "a disaster," his attitude "smug and boastful." KTM then revealed that as early as Jerez, Fernandez informed the factory of his intentions to leave in 2023. The issue? There is an op- tion for another year on his contract and he must pay a substantial sum to get out of it, with RNF Aprilia his preferred destination. Due to his attitude, KTM is unwilling to waive the amount. MARQUEZ BACK IN THE PADDOCK Marc Marquez was back in a MotoGP paddock for the first time since he had surgery on his upper right arm on June 3—the fourth major operation on the limb in 25 months. He was in Austria to assess the current failings of Honda, last in the Constructors' Championship, and its '22 Honda RC213V. "I had the experience of 2020-2021 when I was a long time without coming to the circuits. And in that period, I disconnected too much and when I came back everything was too new. So this time I tried to keep in con- tact a lot with Santi [crew chief Santi Hernandez], with Stefan Bradl, especially with my team. Of course, my brother is riding on Honda, too, but I prefer to keep that tight rela- tionship with my team, with Honda engineers and one of the reasons to be here is not to see the bikes on the track, it's to speak with Honda, the engineers, to be involved about the project." Briefly... Ayumu Sasaki (71) came from as far back at 24th to take a resounding Moto3 win.