Image: Supplied.

Tech3 KTM Factory Racing’s Remy Gardner will fulfil a childhood ambition with the opportunity to race in MotoGP at Phillip Island, but expects that the first few laps of venue will be ‘terrifying’ onboard a premier class machine.

Gardner, 24, made the step to MotoGP for 2022 after being crowned Moto2 World champion last year, with the timing of his move convenient in the fact it falls on the year that the series returns to the Australian circuit after a two-year covid absence.

With Gardner switching to the Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) next season with GYTR GRT Yamaha, 2022 could be one of the only opportunities he gets to race a MotoGP bike around the iconic circuit in the short term.

“It’s definitely been a dream of mine since I was a little kid to race in MotoGP, and even more at Phillip Island, being a home race,” Gardner explained. “It’s nice to come back, as a champion as well, which is pretty special, and of course riding a MotoGP bike with the best riders in the world. So, it’s a very special moment for me and hopefully we can have a better weekend than what we usually have.”

Ranking right up there as one of the fastest circuits on the MotoGP World Championship calendar, Phillip Island is a layout that requires commitment and tests a rider’s ability in high-speed corners.

“For sure, the first few laps will be a bit terrifying but it should be okay,” Gardner added. “I think turn one, turn three, and Lukey Heights, they’re going to be pretty sick, so looking forward to ripping it around there.”

Gardner is currently 23rd in the championship standings with his best result of the year to date coming at Catalunya in P11. The last time the number 87 raced at Phillip Island was in 2019, finishing P6 in Moto2 on that occasion.