Fernandez Paces Aprilia Domination at Valencia MotoGP Test as Teams Eye 2024 Season

Valencia, Spain – Raul Fernandez, riding for the Trackhouse Racing Aprilia team, concluded the 2023 MotoGP track action by setting the fastest time at the post-season Valencia test. This marked a continuation of Aprilia’s strong performance at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit, with Marco Bezzecchi securing second place, thereby underscoring the Italian manufacturer’s competitiveness. The one-day test, held on Monday following the Valencia Grand Prix, served as a crucial opportunity for teams to evaluate new components and configurations in preparation for the 2024 season.

The day’s proceedings, however, were significantly hampered by overnight rainfall, which left the track surface damp and devoid of optimal grip. This delayed the start of any meaningful running, with riders Jack Miller and Maverick Vinales only completing installation laps in the early hours. By midday, no timed laps had been recorded, prompting race organizers to red-flag the session. Marshals were then deployed with leaf blowers and trucks to expedite the drying process, demonstrating the commitment to maximize track time for the teams.

To compensate for the lost time, the mid-day break was canceled, and the session was extended by 30 minutes, pushing the end time to 5:30 PM local time (4:30 PM GMT). With approximately four hours remaining, the green flag was waved, and the riders cautiously began to venture out onto the circuit.

Marco Bezzecchi, fresh from his victory in the Valencia Grand Prix, was among the first to take to the track aboard the factory Aprilia RS-GP, which featured a noticeable aerodynamic upgrade. The Italian rider’s early efforts were soon followed by Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo, who set the initial benchmark with a time of 1 minute 30.020 seconds, as he put the new V4-powered M1 through its paces.

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Bezzecchi then responded by becoming the first rider to dip below the 90-second mark, setting a time of 1 minute 29.949 seconds. KTM’s rising star, Pedro Acosta, then briefly seized the top spot, before Fernandez regained the lead for Aprilia with a lap of 1 minute 29.501 seconds.

The final hour of the test witnessed a flurry of activity, with Fernandez and Bezzecchi trading fastest laps. However, Fernandez’s time of 1 minute 29.397 seconds ultimately remained unchallenged, securing him the top position by a narrow margin of 0.027 seconds over Bezzecchi.

Gresini Racing’s Alex Marquez was the only other rider to lap within a tenth of the Aprilia duo, as he clocked a time of 1 minute 29.457 seconds in the closing stages. This was Marquez’s first outing on the factory-spec Ducati GP26, and the time was good enough for third overall.

Marquez’s teammate, Fermin Aldeguer, also delivered a late improvement, finishing fourth. Aldeguer, who experienced a notable moment at Turn 14, was quickly getting to grips with the GP25.

Pedro Acosta, who had briefly held the lead, ended the day in fifth place. He remained the fastest KTM rider, with a best time of 1 minute 29.581 seconds. He was followed by Maverick Vinales on the Tech3-run RC16, while Fabio di Giannantonio finished seventh for VR46 after briefly encountering a technical issue.

Nicolo Bulega, continuing his stand-in role for the injured Marc Marquez, completed a further 45 laps for the factory Ducati team. Bulega, who had previously raced in both Portimao and Valencia, finished eighth, ahead of KTM’s Brad Binder.

Rounding out the top ten was the reigning two-time MotoGP champion, Francesco Bagnaia. The Ducati rider, who crashed at Turn 2 in the final hour, was one of only a few riders to suffer an incident during the test. Both factory Ducati riders ran special retro liveries, in contrast to most teams that opted for unpainted bikes.

Joan Mir, riding for the factory Honda team, was the fastest Honda rider in the session. Mir finished in 12th place, behind Trackhouse Racing’s Ai Ogura, with a time of 1 minute 29.872 seconds. LCR Honda’s Johann Zarco and teammate Luca Marini finished in 13th and 14th, respectively.

Fabio Quartararo, who had led the session early on, finished 15th, a little over half a second adrift of Fernandez. The test also marked the first official MotoGP sessions for rookies Toprak Razgatlioglu and Diogo Moreira.

Three-time World Superbike champion Razgatlioglu, riding for Pramac Racing, finished in 18th place with a best time of 1 minute 30.667 seconds. Newly-crowned Moto2 champion Moreira, riding for LCR Honda, ended up 21st on the timesheets. Moreira was riding in the colors of HRC, after LCR’s partnership with Japanese oil giant Idemitsu ended.

Valentino Rossi’s protégé, Celestino Vietti, made his MotoGP debut in the Valencia test after VR46 drafted him in place of Franco Morbidelli, who sustained a fracture on his left hand in Sunday’s race. Vietti was classified 21st, three seconds off the ultimate pace.

Team and Rider Backgrounds

Aprilia Racing: The Italian manufacturer has been steadily improving in MotoGP, with the RS-GP demonstrating increasing competitiveness. Their recent success in Valencia highlights their progress and potential for the 2024 season.
Trackhouse Racing: A relatively new entrant to MotoGP, Trackhouse Racing aims to make a significant impact. Fernandez’s performance in the test suggests promising prospects for the team.
Marco Bezzecchi: The Italian rider has been a consistent performer, securing multiple podiums and victories in 2023. His move to Aprilia raises expectations for further success.
Fabio Quartararo: The 2021 MotoGP champion aims to regain his competitive edge. The new V4-powered Yamaha M1 is seen as a crucial step in that direction.
Pedro Acosta: The Moto2 champion is set to make his MotoGP debut in 2024, and his early performance in the test indicates his potential.
Ducati Lenovo Team: As the reigning champions, Ducati continues to develop their machinery, with Bagnaia and Bastianini leading their efforts.
Honda Racing Corporation (HRC): After a challenging season, Honda is looking to bounce back with their revised bike and rider lineup, including Joan Mir and Johann Zarco.
Yamaha Motor Racing: With a new rider lineup featuring Alex Rins and Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha is aiming to return to the front of the grid.

The Valencia test offered teams a glimpse into the future, with new partnerships, machinery, and riders beginning to take shape. As the paddock heads into the winter break, teams will analyze the data gathered from the test, with the aim of returning stronger and more competitive for the 2024 season.