Left without a MotoGP seat after being dropped by KTM, the reigning M𓂃oto2 champiಞon will start a new career in WorldSBK next year.

“I think [my] fi๊rst test is 11-13th December, at Jerez,” said Gardner, who will ride his final MotoGP race for Tech3 at Valencia next weekend.

“So not until the🥃 end of the year, but hopefully I can get an R1 before then and spin some laps on Pirellis.

"That'd be good. More than anything, jusꦯt so I can u🦄nderstand the tyres a bit and so it's not all completely new.”

Gardner scored his first point in eight races with 15th in front of his home fans in Australia bu💞t was then left 18th at Sepang last weekend.

“Not fun. Not good,” said Gardner, who like other KTM r🐠iders struggled w🍃ith a lack of rear grip.

“First few laps we🥃re not bad when our rear tyre was still there, I could manage.

“Straight away after a few laps I just put in like tyre-saving mode basically, and traction control, but made a mistake in✱ Turn 8 and ran wide.

“I was pus🍰hing hard to come back and my rear tyre was just dropping and dr🧔opping and just felt like I was on ice. I had nothing left.

“We've just got no grip,✨ no rear grip. Same as Phillip Island. I don't know what's happening or why it's happening, but… I don't really care anymore, to b🦂e honest!”

Gardner heads into next weekend’s finale tied on 10 points with team-mate and fellow rookie Raul Fernandez, plus RNꦯF’s Cal Crutchlow, at the bottom of the world championship tabl𒊎e.

‘At least I’ll have a bit of fun’

One part of the Sepang weekend that did pu🐼t a smile on Gardner’s face was a massive rolling burnout, on a destroyed wet tyre, during a practice start at the end of Friday practice.

“Once it g꧒ot going, I was not going to let off!” he ⭕said.

“I thought at least I’ll have a bit of fun! The rear tyre💯 just got ripped apa🥂rt in the last few metres before I got to pitlane.

“That’s in the history books as one of the fastest rolling burn🦂outs, atꦦ least for me!”