Raul Fernandez is a different man since securing his future in MotoGP for 2023 with an Aprilia contract which will put him in the Noale brand's new satellite team, alongside another future ex-KTM rider Miguel Oliveira. Is this also another driver? The future will tell, but since Misano, it is clear that the Spaniard has shown a different face. A change in character that he also attributes to his occasional collaboration with Guy Coulon, so showered with praise that it has almost been embarrassing for his titular chief mechanic since the start of his rookie season. In any case, it's good for everyone's morale, even if a simple, cold reading of the timesheet does not reveal a revolution.
It's been a long time since we last saw Raul Fernandez also smiling with such a positive speech. HAS Misano, the 2 vintage Moto2021 world vice-champion was back, a good situation signaled by a 13th place at the San Marino Grand Prix. The two days of tests which followed on the same route did not break this positive atmosphere established elsewhere at the same time as Guy Coulon at his side whose pilot does not miss an opportunity to praise him to the skies: “ it was a great honor for me to have worked with Guy Coulon. He is one of the best crew chiefs in the paddock because he has so many years of experience. I learned a lot from him and enjoyed it a lot. It was very important », Declared Raul fernandez which was therefore not orphaned by its unavailable titular chief engineer.
And this RC16 with which he has so much difficulty getting along? After a total of 118 laps, the rookie achieved a time of 1'32.344. He lost 1,2 seconds to the Yamaha by one fabio quartararo leader, but he was eight tenths faster than during the Grand Prix which took place at the same place last weekend.
Raul Fernandez: “ we found good things for the future and for the next circuits »
It was only 87 thousandths better than his teammate Remy gardner, but listening to him, it was much more: “ we did almost 80 laps on Tuesday, which allowed me to adapt my driving style. I understood carbon brakes and tires much better and the whole bike suits me much better now “, he assures. “There was a small fall at the end of the day, but it wasn’t a problem.”
Then Raul fernandez entered the second day. “ We worked on the settings because we needed to improve some things. Basically, I'm very happy because we had an interesting rhythm. We did not install a soft tire to launch a 'time attack'. We didn't focus on that. It was about making the bike more comfortable “, declared the 21-year-old pilot on speedweek. And he ends: “ we found good things for the future and for the next circuits ". This will be checked next weekend in Aragon.
