Image: Supplied.

In potentially his only MotoGP start at Phillip Island, Tech3 KTM Factory Racing’s Remy Gardner scored a point in his first premier-class Australian GP appearance and finished closer to the lead than he has all season.

After qualifying as the second-highest KTM, Gardner made a great start to the 27-lap outing and gained nine positions to run inside the top 10 as the race approached its halfway point.

The Australian suffered with tyre degradation in the closing laps and ultimately dropped to P15, but nonetheless, delivered a solid ride and the 19.470s deficit to race winner Alex Rins was five seconds closer to the lead than he has been all season come race-end.

“A good start to the race and I stayed close to the front group for thirteen-fourteen laps more or less as I felt strong on the bike,” explained Gardner. “At one point, we were in P10. Then the tyres started dropping and we lost a couple of positions but I had a lot of fun riding here today.

“The fans have been incredible all weekend, and it was good to spend some time with them on the cooling-down lap after the race. Thank you to all of them who came to support us this weekend, they have been amazing.”

Despite bettering teammate Raul Fernandez on numerous occasions this year, Gardner was not offered an option to continue in MotoGP next season, with his future for 2023 secured in the Superbike World Championship with GYTR GRT Yamaha.