The tests in Jerez and Mugello will give Raul Fernandez the opportunity to get to know the current Aprilia RS-GP – a race entry has not yet been confirmed for the trackhouse rider
The original plan was for Aprilia’s satellite team to continue riding last year’s model in the 2024 MotoGP season. When the Trackhouse team made its move last fall, the plans were changed at short notice
Miguel Oliveira was given the same RS-GP specification as Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales from the winter tests onwards. Over the winter, the Aprilia factory in Noale, Italy, had to work hard to produce the necessary parts.
Raul Fernandez started the 2023 season with the RS-GP. It was said that he would be able to switch to the new model during the course of the year. This mainly involves the chassis, aerodynamics and so on, as the engine specification must not be changed.
Now the time will come. “If the weekend goes smoothly, Raul will get the first opportunity to test the 2024 motorcycle on Monday,” reveals Trackhouse Team Principal Davide Brivio.
“Yes,” Fernandez himself confirms this plan. “I will try out the new bike at the tests in Jerez and Mugello. These two tests will allow us to understand the bike. We have time to work on this bike.”
The reason for this is that they do not want to rush through the model change. During the winter tests, Vinales, for example, struggled to get a good feel for the new RS-GP compared to the 2023 model. He has now managed to do so.
Oliveira, who switched from the 2022 to the 2024 RS-GP, also struggled to get up to speed. “Yes, it’s a big step from 2023 to 2024,” confirmed Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori. “The bikes are similar, but the new bike is better. “
“You have to ride this bike a little differently,” said the Italian. That is why it will only be decided after these two Monday tests when Fernandez will have the 2024 model in his garage for the first time at a Grand Prix.
“I don’t know exactly yet, but it won’t happen for another four or five races,” says the Spaniard. “So we still have time to get more potential out of my bike. I have the bike from 2023 and I’m very happy with it.”
“We have seen that my bike is competitive. I can’t say anything bad about the bike.” But Fernandez only scored his first championship points of the year in Austin. He has seven points to his name, while his Trackhouse teammate Oliveira has 13
