Tech 👍3 KTM rookie Raul Fernandez believes Brad Binder’s Qatar MotoGP podiu🐼m is vital for the team as it 'means the bike can perform'. 

Despite finishing last and thus enduring a somewhat disastrous opening MotoGP round, Fernandez believes t෴he potential is there after seeing the factory team rider claim KTM’sཧ first ever podium at the Lusail International Circuit. 

Regarding Fernandez’s ow⛎ꩵn race, last season’s Moto2 sensation was unable to demonstrate that same opening round potential in MotoGP after coming across the line in P18 - last place due to several riders crashing or in Jack Miller’s case having a problem with his bike. 

Fernandez was embroiled in a four-way rookie battle for the fin💮al points scoring position which eventually went the way of team-mate Remy Gardner, who pipped Darryn Binder over the line. 

"The weekend was difficult in general," claimed Fernandez. "Today in the race, all rookies battled in the same group, which is a sig⛦nal that this track is very difficult for us if you don’t come here to do the preseason tests.”

"We did a good job this weekend, but I did not have ൩a great feeling. We will analyse the data when we a🅷re more calm. 

"Today, my biggest learning curve was managing the tyres for a race dur🐻ation. I gained a lot of experience and iꦍt is important to me.  

"Brad Binder reaching the podium today is really important to me because it me෴ans that the bike can perform and we have a reference to folꦚlow in order to get close to it as soon as possible."

With the Spaniard enjoying one of the better rookie seasons any class has seen in 2021, many anticipate the current Moto2 runner-up claiming rookie of the year honours once agℱain. 

It’s ෴an award that according to Team Manager Herve Poncharal is ‘the target’ for both riders.

Poncharal added: "This year is all about learning the category and the target is to fight for the Rookie of 🐓the Year title. 

"Raul had a good race and a great battle with all the rookies as they stayed close to each other the ent🌟ire race, despite the track conditions ch⛄anging at every single lap. 

"Even if he did not g♋rab the point, I want to thank him for his dedication and his hard work. 

"We know that Raul is a fast rider and we understand that it can be difficult to accept that the learning process takes a while. I am sure that from the next race, he will already be b༒etter 𒊎than today."