Trackhouse Aprilia successfully inherited a rider line-up for its first MotoGP season, as there was by no means any query as its entry got here collectively that it might run anybody however Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez for its debut.
Its first massive rider determination is but to return then, however it’s coming. And whereas that call might nicely find yourself being one other season of Oliveira/Fernandez, that might nonetheless be completely different – a alternative inextricably linked to Trackhouse and the way it plans to method its rider technique, somewhat than a vestige of the RNF period.
For what it is price, the possibility that Trackhouse will make some form of change appears fairly excessive proper now. The elephant within the room is present Moto2 frontrunner Joe Roberts – Trackhouse proprietor Justin Marks doesn’t need a token or hurried American rider in his line-up, however he’s clearly eager on having one eventually, and Roberts is now much more credible than he had been simply months in the past.
However there might also be a play to be made for a few of MotoGP’s established riders who find yourself lacking out – and a few inevitably will – within the present recreation of manufacturing facility journey musical chairs.
Everyone in MotoGP was reminded very not too long ago of what the factory-spec Aprilia RS-GP can do when Maverick Vinales monstered the Circuit of the Americas spherical, so Trackhouse ought to have a very good pitch to make there.
So Oliveira and Fernandez must combat for his or her rides and, firstly, as all the time in motorsport, they must combat one another. Trackhouse might be the perfect gig out there to both for 2025 – any suggestion they may transfer as much as the works Aprilia workforce or one other manufacturing facility journey appears extremely far-fetched proper now.
When it comes to monitor document, there is no contest. Considered one of these riders has 5 MotoGP wins in 88 grand prix begins, the opposite hasn’t even cracked the highest 4 in 41.
However this isn’t how MotoGP groups make their selections. If it had been, it might’ve been Brad Binder, not Oliveira, vacating his KTM seat for Jack Miller.
And when it comes to the traditional ‘what have you ever completed for me these days’, Oliveira vs Fernandez has been an inconclusive battle in 2024.
Sure, Oliveira is forward within the standings, 23 factors to 12, and sure, he is coming off a high-quality Jerez spherical. However they’re 2-2 in qualifying, and 3-3 when it comes to races (together with sprints) the place each completed – which might be 4-2 in Fernandez’s favour had he not incurred a tyre strain penalty within the Jerez dash.
So, it is actually shut – however it’s additionally not a like-for-like comparability. Oliveira is on the 2024 bike he has been struggling to show, whereas Fernandez is on final yr’s mannequin and has been typically happier with it.
The engine distinction will likely be negligible, however the 2024 model – constructed round having extra downforce – appears credibly extra aggressive, notably in Vinales’ palms (even when he and Oliveira nonetheless aren’t utilizing the 2024-spec seat unit).
On the identical time, Fernandez is benefitting from nice continuity between what he rode final yr and what he is driving now, whereas Oliveira appears to have been knocked off-balance by having skipped a step.
It’s a muddy image however with a transparent resolution – one which Aprilia and Trackhouse will implement, albeit maybe just a little later than superb for its rider analysis.
What had been initially non-committal strategies that Fernandez will likely be upgraded to the 2024 bike sooner or later mid-season at the moment are lots nearer to assertion of truth – with Aprilia tech chief Romano Albesiano reiterating at Jerez that an improve for Fernandez was coming and acknowledging that it’s going to “positively” be simpler as soon as the entire roster is on the 2024 spec of motorbike.
However the timing stays a bit murky. For now, Fernandez has had his first – restricted – style of the newer machine on the Monday after the Spanish Grand Prix.
RAUL FERNANDEZ ON THE 2024 APRILIA
“It is fairly a distinct bike to journey. You want time to grasp the aerodynamics.
“For me it was higher – you want time, however for me it labored just a little bit higher than the ’23. I am unable to let you know the ’23 is a nasty bike, I am pleased with my bike. For the longer term possibly, it [the ’24] is one step extra for us.
“On information we noticed that [in the fast corners] it is kind of the identical. We did like eight, 9 laps, was not sufficient to know very nicely if it is quick or not.
“The suggestions in some corners is kind of higher than the ’23 bike. [But] when you might have a check, with no strain, you might have a brand new bike, every little thing is tremendous simple. We have to know [what it’ll be like] when we now have the bike in a race weekend, with identical circumstances, simply with two practices – later I can let you know one thing.”
Fernandez was pretty agnostic on the prospect of being upgraded mid-season when he started the marketing campaign, however his tone has shifted.
It could possibly be a double-edged sword for him – particularly if, like Oliveira, he does not click on with the newer RS-GP instantly – however he needs a straight combat.
“If I’ve the likelihood, I favor to have the identical materials that every one the [other] Aprilias, to see the place we’re.
“As a result of now all the time it is tough to know.
“For instance in America I used to be tremendous aggressive – however [compared] with the laptime of final yr. I wish to know the place we’re with the identical bike.”
It could be very helpful for Trackhouse and Aprilia to know, too.
Oliveira appears to be making progress with the RS-GP – he was the highest-placed Aprilia rider within the Spanish GP after a strong effort. However the case that he was the quickest Aprilia at Jerez is not very sturdy, and the way in which he spoke after the race prompt he nonetheless is aware of there’s just a little bit lacking.
If he rediscovers the shape that he had begun his Aprilia profession in final yr, by way of testing and the opener earlier than his damage, Trackhouse can be silly to drop him.
However because it stands, and assuming the 2024 Aprilia is consultant of the producer’s improvement route with its future bikes, benchmarking Oliveira in opposition to Fernandez – and Fernandez in opposition to Oliveira – on that machine as quickly as doable is a no brainer for everybody involved.
For now, although, we’ll stay in a little bit of a holding sample, and not using a full image for Trackhouse to move into 2025 talks with.
