Gardner gives it his all despite 'highly uncalled for' penalty

Australia's Remy Gardner has expressed his disappointment following a challenging weekend at the Catalan GP.

Gardner finished 16th in the Moto2™ race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, despite copping two penalties – one on Friday and another on Sunday.

After receiving a six-place grid penalty for crashing under yellow flags during practice, Gardner then incurred a long-lap penalty for exceeding track limits in the race.

The Aussie crossed the line in 16th – the same position he started from – as a faulty tyre also proved troublesome in what was otherwise a heroic return to the track following a monster crash and surgery less than a fortnight ago.

"I think the penalty was highly uncalled for if I am being honest and totally not fair," Gardner said of his grid penalty.

"Yes, I crashed under yellow flags, but I saw the flags on my first lap when the tyre probably wasn't up to temperature.

"I know the rule and I closed the gas but as soon as I did the front dived and it folded on me – that's why I crashed.

"Not because I didn't respect the rules. We have the data, but Race Direction didn't seem to care.

"There was nothing I could do about it other than accept it and focus on the race, but from lap one we had a rear tyre problem – it was completely blistered at the end.

"It was something out of our control and we have to just focus on the next one.

"I think we could have been in the top 10, the only consolation is that we leave the weekend with no further injury.

"I am sore, but we dug deep, and I will rest now to be in even better shape for France."

The Moto2™ race was won by Luca Marini (SKY Racing Team VR46), followed by Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (HDR Heldrun Speed Up).

Gardner has an extra week to recuperate ahead of the French GP, which is scheduled for 9-11 October 2020 at Le Mans.