In Catalunya it seemed that some sort of turning point had finally arrived. Raul Fernandez instead took a step back, but the problem is to be found in his right arm. In fact, unexpectedly the compartment syndrome has reappeared some time ago and the medical tests carried out recently have confirmed a situation that also marked the recently concluded Mugello GP. Tomorrow is the single day of MotoGP testing and Fernandez will test the 2024 RS-GP and he will undergo surgery on Tuesday. But it suits him, he will have time to recover, given that the next GP in Assen will be on the weekend of 28-30 June.
Raul Fernandez, again
Like last year: the Trackhouse Aprilia rider underwent surgery in 2023 for compartment syndrome in his right arm, here we go again on that same arm and from the beginning of this 2024. “From the first race I started having some problems” Raul Fernandez has in fact admitted, as reported by Motosan colleagues. A situation that has been going on for months and continues to worsen. “Despite all the preparation, the arm could no longer hold in the last seven laps, on any circuit” Fernandez said, without hiding his frustration. In the case of Mugello, “I suffered a lot in turns 6 and 7 [Casanova-Savelli, ndr]instead of closing the throttle with my wrist I now had to do it with my arm.”
The opportunity wasted in Barcelona
Raul Fernandez can’t help but return to that GP that seemed like his moment of glory. The accident in the Sprint didn’t allow us to know how it would have ended, in Sunday’s race he had some more difficulties and now it’s clear why. “I could have fought until the end, it was an opportunity and we had to take advantage of it” Fernandez reiterated confidently. “I’m not saying I could have done it, but I could have played for it. But with six laps to go it happened again.” Precisely that problem that didn’t allow him to know how that GP in which he was really showing himself to be in splendid form would end. What explanation is given? “I think it depends on the bike, but also on the stress of now having to face two races in one weekend.”
First the 2024 RS-GP, then the surgery
It hasn’t been an easy situation to handle so far. “I have to thank Quiron for the work, otherwise I don’t think I would have finished the race” said Raul Fernandez. “After each session, ice and a lot of physio work, before the race also something to try to delay the problem.” As mentioned, tomorrow is the turn of the single day of MotoGP testing again at Mugello. The opportunity for Fernandez to really test the most updated version of the Aprilia. “It will come to me during a GP and we have to understand it well, which is why I haven’t had surgery yet” underlined the Spaniard from Trackhouse Racing. “Tomorrow evening I will then travel to Barcelona and have surgery on Tuesday.”
Photo: Trackhouse Aprilia
