Image: Vaclav Duska Jnr.

Remy Gardner returned to the world championship paddock for the Catalan GP at the Catalunya Circuit making his Moto2 debut as a replacement rider in the Tasca Racing Scuderia squad, finishing an impressive 15th position.

Drafted in to replace Alessandro Tonucci a few days before the event, Gardner showed the type of form he’s been displaying in CEV this season on his way to a single world championship point.

“What a debut,” Gardner beamed. “It was hard in practice as the bike was set up for someone else and we needed to change many things but the team listened and step by step we could improve. Every time we went out we went faster and we qualified just out of the top 20.

“We kept working and tried something in the warm-up, which was another step in the right direction, so we decided to race with it. The race was long, much longer than the CEV races, but I am so so happy with the result. I stayed mentally strong and from the start was fighting hard with many other riders in the leading group.

“I kept pushing and was battling really hard with Vierge, I think we touched at least five times, guess we both wanted that final point. In the end I came out on top which is good and gives me some confidence for the rest of the year. It was a smart race and I am really happy.

“A big thanks to the whole Tasca Scuderia team and for those that got me back on the grid for the Catalan GP. It’s easy to celebrate but it was a tough weekend with the accident on Friday that claimed the life of Luis Salom. My thoughts and condolences go this family, his team and his friends and my first Moto2 point is dedicated to his memory.”

Gardner’s next outing is in a weeks time at round three of the FIM CEV Repsol championship with the Race Experience team, which is scheduled to take place at the same venue as Sunday’s Catalan GP in Barcelona.