Is Fernandez having second thoughts? Raul’s place in MotoGP uncertain

Of the four Aprilias on track at Silverstone, three went like lightning, the fourth less so. Aleix Espargaró won the GP, Maverick Vinales reached the podium in the sprint and Miguel Oliveira came close on Sunday. Who’s missing? Raul Fernandez, not yet there aboard the RS-GP, or in MotoGP in general.

Fernandez and MotoGP: a premature move?

While competing in Moto2 with the KTM team, Raul ‘found himself’ unexpectedly signed up to MotoGP. In what way? As he himself admits, the rider was ‘promoted’ to the reigning class against his own better judgment. The Spaniard wanted to stay in the intermediate class.

And so it was that he debuted aboard the Tech3 RC16, flanking Remy Gardner, who was also his team-mate in Moto2. The pair achieved little, but while the Australian left the prototypes in favour of SBK, the Spaniard remained, changing air and team.

Joining the renewed RNF team and riding the (2022) Aprilia, the Madrid native was expected to be something of a revelation this season, but unfortunately this has not been the case. Across nine rounds, including sprints and main races, he has scored just 14 points.

Aprilia RNF, a strong and highly sought-after bike

In the hope that Raul can build confidence and speed, let’s consider what we heard at Silverstone. The rider is dissatisfied with his MotoGP experience to date and wants something else. SBK like Remy Gardner? No, rather a category in which he’s already fared well.

Moto2, of course. Fernandez did very well there, only a few too many mistakes preventing him from achieving the title. Our feeling is that his enforced move to MotoGP was something that the rider himself didn’t take well, so that although he’s tried, he hasn’t achieved his full potential.

But if Raul were to get off the Aprilia and climb aboard the Triumph-powered Kalex Pons, he’d be vacating a highly sought-after seat. The team RNF RS-GP is a bike that many would be pleased to ride, let alone any rookies.