Remy Gardner jo🎃ined famous father Wayne as a motorcycle grand prix winner with an emotional 𓆉victory in his 97th race start at the Portimao Moto2 season finale.

It marked the culmination of a long road to the top littered with injuries ♚and often uncompetitive machines, following Remy's grand prix debut as a Moto3 wild-card in 2014.

"When I crossed the finish line it was a big relief, a big weight off my shoulders," said Gardner, who had dropped to fourth in the middle stages of the race,🍎 before fighting his way back to the front ahead of title contenders Luca Marini and Sam Lowes.

"It's been two good but tough yea🌠rs, especially last year, and a win had always eluded us. When I came over the finish line, I sat up really fast and nearly fell off the back of the bike!

"There were definitely a few tears in the helmet. Lot♔s of hard 🌟years have gone by, so the victory hit the heart."

It was also the perfect farewell for the 22-year-old Australian to the ONEXOX SAG team, whi♏ch he joined in 2019 without a podium to show for four 🉐seasons in Moto3/Moto2.

Gardner corrected that statistic in only his second SAG appearance and unsurpౠrisingly thought a victory would soon follow. Instead, Gardner wasn't seen on the podium again in 2019 while seven DNFs dropped him to 15th in the world 💞championship.

Still riding a 2019-spec Kalex this season, Gardner ironed out the previous mistakes and delivered a strong campaign ⭕of four podiums (including the Portimao win), two pole positions and sixth place in the world championship.

"There were definitely a few years in the b💃eginning where I struggled a lot, whether it was me or the machinery the results weren't coming and just to score points back in the day was like a victory for me," Gardner reflected.

"Then Edu [Perales, SAG team principal] gave me the opportunity to ride a top machine and last ye🎐ar I thought I coไuld [win], but it didn't come as easy as I thought!

"But after two years and in the last race of 2020 we did it. Definitely a lot of hard work and pain along the way, but a lot of lessons as well. Tওhere's still more to learn but super happy."

Gardner's breakt🐽hrough season saw him seal a move toꦿ the Red Bull KTM Ajo team for the 2021 Moto2 World Championship, when SAG will start a new partnership with the Mandalika Racing Team.