Fernandez was the one rider throughout the Aprilia contingent to begin the season with final 12 months’s bike, with team-mate Miguel Oliveira getting the latest-spec equipment in 2024 following the takeover of RNF Racing by American outfit Trackhouse.
Initially, it had been communicated to Fernandez that he would transfer to the upgraded RS-GP at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, however his debut outing now has been pushed again till the post-race check at Jerez on Monday.
Aprilia has but to verify whether or not Fernandez will get to race with the brand new model of the RS-GP on the following spherical at Le Mans in France on 12 Might.
“We’re completely happy to be again in Europe with the enduring Jerez race which, this time, shall be Raul’s dwelling race,” Trackhouse workforce principal Davide Brivio.
“I am excited to see how rather more we are able to obtain within the coming races after the current progress we made in Austin with each drivers.
“I do not suppose we confirmed our full potential in Austin and for that we have to be good in all areas over the weekend and optimize our efficiency. Let’s have a look at the place we find yourself on Sunday.
“Then we could have the check on Monday and if the whole lot runs easily in the course of the weekend, Raul could have the primary alternative to briefly check the 2024 bike.”
Raul Fernandez, Trackhouse Racing Workforce
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
The improve solely covers the chassis facet of the bike, with the rules forcing the 24-year-old to stick with the identical engine he began the season with.
He’ll proceed to have the 2023 motor fitted to his new ‘24 bike, and so gained’t have full parity with team-mate Oliveira and manufacturing facility Aprilia duo Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales in the course of the season.
Up to now, Aprilia’s satellite tv for pc workforce RNF Racing at all times needed to do with year-old tools, however Trackhouse made a degree of getting the latest-spec equipment from Aprilia following its entry into the MotoGP.
Though Trackhouse’s ambitions caught Aprilia unexpectedly, the corporate’s CEO Massimo Rivola obtained on effectively with the brand new administration and agreed with the request to increase the provision of 2024 bikes.
As a result of manufacturing difficulties and the restricted timeframe, Aprilia might solely have one further 2024 bike prepared for pre-season testing, which went to Oliveira.
Nonetheless, it at all times maintained that it could be capable to provide one other 2024 model of the RS-GP for Fernandez by the center of the 12 months.