Image: Russell Colvin.

A sixth-place finish came as a positive result for ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team’s Remy Gardner in his home round of the Moto2 World Championship, overcoming a difficult start to the weekend in a determined ride.

Gardner crashed heavily in Friday practice at the Pramac Generac Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, but managed to bounce back on race-day Sunday for a good haul of points in a confidence-inspiring ride.

A clash between Iker Lecuona, Luca Marini and Marco Bezzechi into turn four on the opening lap split the field and then a late attack from Lecuona on Gardner cost the Australian any chance of challenging for a top-five result. Still, it was a positive outcome for the 21-year-old.

“I can’t be completely disappointed with the result,” Gardner reflected post-race. “It could have easily ended up worse, but I mean the first lap incident really spread out the whole group and we lost a lot of time there. I was pushing my heart out trying to catch, once I got part Marquez and all of them, but there was already a gap, unfortunately.

“That’s what happens when you start down the back and why I was so frustrated yesterday, but this weekend I couldn’t catch them. If I was there, 100 per cent I could sit in their draft and be able to fight for a podium spot, but the cards didn’t go my way – that’s racing.”

“Sixth it is and, you know, at least I finished the race [laughs],” he added. “This is a good building block, so we just need to keep working because we’re sort of back to where we’re supposed to be.”

As a result of his P6 finish at Phillip Island today, Gardner now sits 13th position in the world championship rankings with two rounds remaining. Today marked his best result since scoring fourth and Silverstone’s British Grand Prix back in August.