Remy Gardner may hold a 36-point advantage at the midway stage of the Moto2 World Championship, meaning he has over one race in hand, but the R൩ed Bull Ajo rider is taking nothing for granted.

Seeking to become the first Austꩵralian since Kel Carruthers in 1969 to win the intermediate class title, Gardner says his present goal is simply to remain in title contention going into the Valencia finale on November 14.

“To🌱 keep up the work and the results that we have shown so far, to repeat what we have done in the first part of the season," Gardner said of his goals for the remainder of the season.

"It will be important not to make mistakes and always score points. The idea is to get to Valencia fightiꦑng for the championship."

After making his worಌld championship debut in the Moto3 class back in 2014, itᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ proved to be a long hard slog rather than a sprint up the grand prix ladder.

Gardner's efforts were finally rewarded w🍨ith a breakthrough Moto2 podium in 2019, followed by four rostrums and a debut vict🥀ory last season.

But those results were eclipsed within half-a-dozen races at Aki Ajo's team, Gardner entering the su𒊎mmer break with eight podiums, including three wins, from the nine rounds.

Gardner's nearest rival is rookie 🥂team-mate Raul Fernandez, whose stats (six podiums, three wins) are not far from the Australian, including four pole positions in the la♐st five races.

Crucially, Fernandez fell while trying to st🧔ick with Gardner in Germany, a mistake that opened up the current 'breathing room' for the 23-year-old at the head of the ꦜstandings.

Nonetheless, perhaps tactfully, it was Gardner'✤s victory at the previous Barcelona round that he rates as the best moment so far.

“If I had to pick just one moment, I would go for the victory in Barcelona," he said. "I really liked the race we had and, as I live close by, that day I was able to celebrate the win with some frien🦂ds."

Fernandez's Sachsenring fall broke a run of what would otherwise have been five successive 1-2 race finishes for the Ajo team, which has already scored over double the teams' world championship points of next best VR4ꦚ6.

“Aki [Ajo] knows how to get the most out of each rider," said Gardner. "The way the team works is fantastic, and it is very efficient 💧and organised."

And rather than being conce﷽rned by the stro🍒ng challenge posed by Fernandez, Gardner rates it as a key factor in his own rising form.

“It's positive to have that, so you can learn from him," Gardner said of having such a fast team-mate. "That is why the team are so strong this year, because we have acquired new knowledge about each other and the style that each r⛎ider has.

"That takes our level up mo💝re and more, which is very good for us."

The Spaniard's recent qualifying pace al𓃲so hasn't gone unnoticed by Gardner.

“I would like to improve🅘 my showings in qualifying. That doesn't mean that we♔ have been doing it wrong up to now, but Raul is used to going a couple of tenths faster than us," he said.

🧜"In the s༺econd half of the season, we will work to strengthen our cornering a little on our hot lap."

Havin♛g already inked a deal to race for Tech3 KTM in MotoGP next season, thus returning the Gardner name to the premier-class for the first time since father Wayne retired in 1992, Remy now plans to spend his final summer break as a Moto2 rider enjoying some fishing, wakeboarding and spending time "working on the cars that I'm restoring.

"When I return, I 💧will train hard to prepare for the two races in Austria, which will be very important for us."

The first of the Austrian rounds, KTM's home events,&nb⛦sp;takes place on August 6-8.