Raul Fernandez, the rider for Trackhouse Aprilia, will be testing the 2024 model of the bike during an official MotoGP test at Jerez after the Spanish Grand Prix. Fernandez has been the only rider for Aprilia using last year’s bike, as his teammate Miguel Oliveira received the latest model at the beginning of the season. Originally, Fernandez was supposed to ride the upgraded bike at the Spanish GP, but the team decided to postpone this decision until the test. It is still uncertain whether Fernandez will get to ride the 2024 bike at the next race in Le Mans, France.
Davide Brivio, the Team Principal for Trackhouse, expressed his excitement about returning to Europe for the Jerez race, which is considered Fernandez’s home race. Brivio also mentioned the progress made in Austin and hopes to see even more improvement in the upcoming races. He believes that the team has not yet reached its full potential and aims to perform well in all areas during the weekend. Brivio is looking forward to the test on Monday, where Fernandez will have the opportunity to briefly test the 2024 bike if everything goes smoothly during the weekend.
Fernandez’s upgrades only include changes to the chassis of the bike, as regulations prohibit manufacturers from using multiple engines throughout the season. Previously, Aprilia’s satellite team, RNF Racing, always received older bikes, but Trackhouse wanted to change this before entering the paddock. Thanks to the relationship between the new management team and Aprilia’s CEO Massimo Rivola, the team was able to obtain 2024 spec bikes for this season. However, due to timing constraints and production difficulties, Aprilia could only provide one additional 2024 bike for pre-season testing. Nevertheless, the team is considering providing Fernandez with another updated 2024 bike later in the year.