Raul Fernandez must work hard to maintain a place on the MotoGP grid in 2025. Aprilia has placed its trust in him and continues to support him, however both he and Miguel Oliveira must bring results to the Trackhouse team. The Le Mans-Barcelona-Mugello triptych could be very important, especially for the 23-year-old from Madrid. Rumors are already leaking out about the possibility that the team could focus on Joe Roberts, thus bringing an American back to racing permanently in the top class.
MotoGP, Jerez test: Fernandez’s report
After the Spanish Grand Prix, there was a test in Jerez and for Fernandez it was fundamental, because he was able to try the Aprilia RS-GP with the 2024 specifications. As is known, unlike his teammate Oliveira he is not competing with the latest version of the Noale prototype and only in Andalusia did he have it available. On the Trackhouse team’s official website he declared that riding the new bike was like tasting candy. He only made two runs, also setting a time of 1’37” which satisfied him.
In general, Fernandez was quite satisfied with the work done after the test: “Aerodynamics change – he told Motosan.es – and the plan was simply to use it to see how it worked. I think it went positively, but at the same time we also had a lot of work to do on our bike and we worked on it all morning. We focused a lot on electronics, our weak point, and I think we found two-three solutions. Then the team and Aprilia decided to move to the 2024 bike. It works very well, but it’s quite different and I didn’t get too involved. I returned to our bike and we continued working“.
When will you get the 2024 Aprilia RS-GP?
Raul was able to have a first taste of Aprilia’s latest creation, getting an idea of how the RS-GP has evolved. In braking he felt particularly good and understood that the potential is excellent, but now he is focused on making the most of the current specification because he will have to wait to get the new package: “They told me at least five or six races. I’m not thinking about when it will arrive. The bike I have is very competitive, although the question remains as to what I could do with the same material. I’d like to have it, but anyway I quite like the current bike“.
Fernandez can’t do anything but wait and in the meantime give his all with what he has. He certainly is in a better situation than in 2023 and he must exploit it to achieve results. He has so far scored 12 points in 4 grands prix, 11 points less than Oliveira.
Photo: Trackhouse Racing
