During Q1 the two MotoGP rookies were together on track, with the reigning Moto2 champion deciding to put a late move 🍸on the Spaniard heading into turn one, an overtake that cost both riders dearly. 

While ౠit was a clean overtake from Gardner, the compromised line heading into turn one cost him two tenths even though he pushed on and set his fastest lap.

For Fernandez, the disgruntled Tech 3 KTM rider was inevitably pushed wide, resulting in him having to abando🍸n his tim♔e-attack effort. 

Oꦺnce both riders returned to pit lane having failed to advance into Q2 for the tenth time this season, Fernandez approached Gardner’s side of the garage as an argument ensued.

But after taking time to reflect on the incident, Fernandez stres🐼sed no harm was don🌸e.

"It’s nothing serious. In the end we tried to do the best but it was nothing important, honestly," Fernandez told MotoGP.com. "We tried to push and he [G꧃ardner] was in the 🦹middle [of the circuit] and it was chaos. 

"It was not just with Remy but all riders ꧒were playing like in Moto3. But this can happen so don’t worry."

‘I may have disturbed him’ - Gardner 

While Gardner was quick to defend his de🐓cision to make an overtake on Fernandez, the former Moto2 𝓰rider felt Fernandez played his part after squeezing him into turn one.

Gardner said: "I didn’t actually see that he was on a fast lap. Because everyone was s🥀at up and it was difficult to find a spot to go and it was difficult to see who was going fast and who was sitting up. 

"I think, in the end I may have disturbed him, but anyway, I spoke to him; he was angry at first🎃 but now we’re okay. 

"I never want to disturb anyone on purpose but it was just difficult to find a spot. Also him in the fiꦺrst corner… He was squeezing me out and I lost my first sector. 

"I lost two t𓆉enths in the first sector even though it was myဣ best lap. Anyway, that’s normal headbutts in the team." 

MotoGP proving tough for the two rookies…

Asi🉐de from the pair’s heated exchange, both Gardner and Fernandez are struggling to make consistent improvements, while other rookies such as Fabio Di Giannantonio and Marcꦑo Bezzecchi are greatly out-performing the two. 

Gardner was over seven tenths off the time he needed i✱n order to advance through to Q2, while Fernandez, who is hoping to leave KTM at the end of the season, was a full second aw🅘ay.