After the summer break, Raul Fernandez will also receive the latest material – Aprilia is planning the one permitted aerodynamic update for all riders for Silverstone
Raul Fernandez was the only one of the four Aprilia riders to start the 2024 MotoGP season with the 2023 RS-GP. This primarily affects the aerodynamics, as he has the same engine specification as his Trackhouse teammate Miguel Oliveira.
Oliveira struggled to get used to the new aerodynamics during the winter tests. As far as Fernandez is concerned, the team does not want to rush things. At the Monday test after the Jerez weekend, he rode a few laps with the new fairing for the first time.
This would also have been planned for the Monday test in Mugello, but rain prevented thorough work. “I did two runs with it in Jerez,” says Fernandez about the latest RS-GP package. “We have some information about the 2024 motorcycle.”
“We see a difference in the factory riders from last year to this year. It’s about understanding how we need to adapt the set-up of the 2024 bike. I know that I have a good team behind me. The communication with Aprilia is also very good.”
Fernandez achieved his best result with the “old” Aprilia with sixth place in Barcelona. Tenth place in Austin was his second top 10 result. There were also two ninth places in the sprints at Austin and Le Mans.
In the meantime, the plans for when Fernandez will receive the latest aerodynamics have also been finalized. Aprilia plans to homologate the one permitted aerodynamic update after the summer break. Specifically, Silverstone at the beginning of August is being considered.
Aleix Espargaro, Maverick Vinales, Oliveira and Fernandez will receive this update. This means that Fernandez will have the same material available as his brand colleagues after the summer break.
Theoretically, Fernandez could also be equipped with the current aerodynamics now. However, he would then not be able to switch to the latest update for the rest of the season. Aprilia is therefore deliberately waiting for the moment when the update is homologated for everyone
