Moto GP
Raul Fernandez Cautious on Aprilia RS-GP24’s Impact Ahead of Silverstone Debut
Raul Fernandez Ends Aprilia Stint with Tenth Place Finish in Germany, Anticipates RS-GP24 Debut in Silverstone
Raul Fernandez concludes his season with the 2023 Aprilia model by securing the tenth position in Germany, looking ahead to his first race on the RS-GP24 at the upcoming Silverstone event.
Raul Fernandez is tempering his expectations before receiving an upgraded version of the 2024 Aprilia RS-GP for the upcoming MotoGP event at Silverstone.
The Trackhouse competitor remains the sole racer utilizing the 2023-spec Aprilia model this year.
Despite this, he has managed to secure a position on the front row during qualifications in both Catalunya and Germany.
In Barcelona, Fernandez experienced a decline from the top position in the Sprint, eventually securing a sixth-place finish in the race. However, his impressive performance during the qualifying round had minimal impact at the Sachsenring event.
An increase in the front tyre pressure caused Fernandez to fall to 14th position during the Sprint, and he finished his last race on the RS-GP23 with a tenth place in the grand prix.
"An error occurred… Somehow, the pressure wasn't adjusted right to fully utilize the tyre's capabilities," Fernandez remarked on Saturday night. "However, we operate as a unit, sharing victories and defeats alike, and they also provided me with a great bike that allowed me to qualify in the front row."
However, the grip of the back tyre was the decisive constraint in the race.
"During the initial 15 laps, I found myself in the mix, battling alongside the Ducatis and Miguel," Fernandez remarked, noting his position just behind Oliveira in eighth at the midpoint of the race.
"However, during the final 15 laps, I encountered significant issues with the tyre. This was partly due to the bike's 2023 model. Consequently, the speed was relatively slow. Despite this, I gave it my all and managed to secure a spot in the top ten."
"I enjoyed a good battle with Pedro, Brad, and Marco. However, I lacked the means to surpass them. Nonetheless, competing against individuals of their caliber always presents an opportunity for improvement."
Fernandez sets his sights on the upcoming season, aiming for his first race with the 2024 RS-GP.
Despite the fact that Fernandez's engine specifications will remain the same due to homologation regulations, he is anticipated, similarly to Oliveira, to be given an updated aerodynamics package for the 2024 season, to be introduced mid-season at the British Grand Prix.
However, in terms of performance, he doesn't anticipate a drastic change.
Fernandez remarked that the 2024 model bike, which he had a chance to test briefly at Jerez in April, didn't show any improvement in speed. "However, it seems that preserving the tire might be more manageable with the new bike," he added.
"I experimented with it during a single trial for a couple of attempts, so it's uncertain what the outcomes might be. However, if Aprilia has introduced this new motorcycle, it's undoubtedly because they've identified some potential benefits.
"Furthermore, when we look at the lap times from the previous year, they're significantly better. So, indeed, I think that the [new] motorcycle has seen some improvement [though] undoubtedly, it's not a whole second quicker."
Oliveira's impressive performance at Sachsenring has propelled him past Fernandez into 13th place in the championship standings. Neither rider has secured a contract for the 2025 season yet.
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