Senna Agius’s return to Barcelona this weekend in the Moto2 world championship will serve two aims: to banish some bad memories and to set himself up for some happier ones.
Having dominated Spain’s Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in his maiden European Moto2 campaign last year on his way to second in the title standings, he arrived back on that fertile soil again this season with a shot at wrapping up his maiden continental championship with two rounds to spare.
But expected pleasure turned to searing pain in a Friday practice crash. Suffering a fractured hand, he ended up under the knife of Xavier Mir in the well-used Dexeus clinic and has spent the last six weeks in rehabilitation.
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His title lead was so large that he still commands a 20-point lead despite missing two races, but it’s cold consolation for the ambitious Aussie.
“It was definitely character building to sit on the sideline from the box and watch two races,” he tells Fox Sports. “I know with the job we were doing that weekend that the races probably would have went in our favour come Sunday, especially with the conditions.
“The chance to clinch the title on Sunday was a possibility, and to be sitting in the box watching that slip away was definitely tough.”
Rehabilitation has been long but smooth. Agius has had several days testing back on the bike and rates his mobility at 99 per cent.
And while his pursuit of championship glory will have to wait until the next race in October, his readiness will be put to the test in the highest stakes examination of his abilities yet at this weekend’s Catalan Grand Prix, where he’ll be substituting the injured Darryn Binder in the Moto2 world championship.
On the line is a step off from the continental series and a potential pathway onto the grand prix circuit.
“Of course I think I deserve it,” he says. “I don’t think that’s a silly thing to say, that I deserve it; I think I’ve done a good job this year. I’ve made a good step personally, and I feel like I’m just ready and I’ve grown up for it.
“I think everyone in my corner’s on the job trying to find something for me and secure it, so hopefully we can get something over the line soon, because that’s 100 per cent where I want to be next year.”
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GROWING UP FAST
There’s no doubt Agius has the credentials to take the next step.
He stood on the podium in every race he finished in his maiden European Moto2 campaign last year, with only a pair of crashes breaking his perfect run.
Meanwhile, four stand-in races substituting Sam Lowes at the race-winning Marc VDS team gave him some much-needed exposure to the grand prix circuit.
“I felt like I really deserved that, because my rookie season was pretty good last year,” he says. “But when I went to Austria at ground zero. It was all completely new again.
“It definitely was a challenging weekend, but come Valencia I felt like I belonged.”
Valencia, the season closer, was a race of attrition, with nine riders failing to finish after clashes throughout the field.
Agius, though, kept a cool head to score his first world championship points.
“The race was superdifficult for everyone,” he said. “The track was treacherous on Sunday, and it was honestly the last man standing. I brought that home for ninth, which I was just absolutely stoked about. It felt really rewarding.”
A full-time step-up to the Moto2 world championship should have been on the cards but for a change to regulations that raised the minimum entry age to 18 in 2023. The season started barely two months before Agius’s 18th birthday.
But another year on the European circuit has only bolstered his case. In a dominant campaign Agius has won every race he’s entered bar one — Jerez, where he finished third — and despite missing two races through injury he can still wrap up the championship by the end of the next round in Aragón.
While Agius is obviously getting better with age, there’s been a lot of mental maturation at play as well.
“I’ve got on top of myself a lot more for sure,” he says. “This has been the biggest thing.
“Last year I was maybe winging it a little bit more because the results were coming quickly, but I crashed out of some races leading when I probably shouldn’t have.
“I feel like I’m much more on top of myself in how I’m approaching the weekends and my work ethic with my team.
“I’ve just matured in that way, and I’ve considered other little 1 per cent gains away from the motorcycle just to put myself in a much better frame and working state.
“In a class like Moto2, when everyone’s on the same machinery, it’s really who can look in the mirror the most and try and fix themselves, and that’s exactly what I’ve done this year.
“I’ve just tried to have my head down every lap, focused on the job, and come Sunday you can sit on the grid knowing what your outcome’s going to be by the work you’ve put in. I’ve really come to understand that this year.
“I just feel like I’ve just overall grown up in that aspect.”
A GOLDEN CHANCE AT THE RIGHT TIME
It’s that matured racer that Agius will want to demonstrate on the grand prix circuit this weekend. Now well into the second half of the season with the rider market in full swing, a good showing in Barcelona will go a long way to securing him a place in the world championship.
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Fortunately it’s a track that’ll suit him well, despite having also been the scene of his first major setback earlier this year.
“The good thing that’s on my side is I know Barcelona and I really gel with Barcelona,” he says. “I know from FP1 how I need to ride the bike and what direction I need to start heading in.
“I’ve done a handful of rides on the world championship bikes and I already know the crew. I wouldn’t say I’m an absolute rookie anymore, but I still haven’t done half the season in GP.
“The world championship bike does feel a little bit different, so when you’ve got to handle a new environment, a new crew, a new track and then have a bit of a different feeling on the bike — and with a little added pressure when you’re not a fixed rider there, you’re just stepping in — you’ve got to definitely be on top of your mental state.”
But he’s not willing to burden himself with expectations despite the importance of a strong showing.
“I’m having a good season, but if you think you’re going to go do the same in that championship, then obviously it’s a harsh reality — it’s a big jump, and you have to manage expectations,” he says.
“Of course I have some targets internally. I know where I want to be and where I think I can be if I do x, y and z.
“It’s really important to go in there and be super-present and try and get up to speed and work well from the beginning.
“I think if I can try not to feel too much like an outsider, try and jump in and understand and have a bit of confidence that I belong there, I think it’s going to help.
“I don’t want to sit here and put so much expectation on the table. I want to just do my best from FP1, and then if I can pull everything together all weekend and do the work through the practice sessions, I don’t see why on Sunday I can’t have a good race.
“Any opportunity you get is like gold, and I’m going to grab it with both hands.”
The Catalan Grand Prix is live and ad-break free during racing on Kayo and Fox Sports. Weekend coverage starts from 4:55pm (AEST).
