In what was his second MotoGP season, Raúl Fernández once again had to go through an adaptation period—imposed by the change to the CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team and an Aprilia bike.
The year didn’t start particularly encouragingly, with a retirement in the main race of the Portuguese GP—similarly repeated in the Americas GP, with a 14th place in between in Argentina. At home in the Spanish GP, he finished 15th. In France, Fernández had to sit out after surgery for compartmental syndrome days before. He attempted to participate but his physical condition didn’t allow it.
Skipping ahead, the Spaniard’s first top-ten finish occurred in the British GP. In a strong round for Aprilia overall, he secured tenth place. It was his best result in the premier class until then and opened up good prospects for the second part of the season. However, difficulties would soon arise.
After two retirements in the following rounds, Fernández responded with his best streak of results: three consecutive top-ten finishes between the San Marino and Japanese GPs. However, the final phase of the season would be marked by difficulties, not only due to turbulence within RNF but also an outdated Aprilia RS-GP.
In fact, in the last five rounds, #25 only scored points on two occasions: one of them in Thailand, a race of great suffering due to intense heat. However, he closed the year ‘on a high note’: he showed speed from the start in the Valencia GP and finished the race in fifth place. In the championship, he finished 20th with 51 points, being second to last among regular riders.
Despite the difficulties faced, Fernández ensured there are reasons for satisfaction and lessons to be drawn from 2023: ‘I want to say thank you to all the people who helped me to increase my level my level as a person, as a rider. All of them did a fantastic job during this season. For some reason we didn’t get the results we wanted, but overal I’m very, very happy. Because I came back, I believed in me, I saw I ride like I want, and that’s something I will take for the next year’.
Fernández’s results may not impress everyone, but the rider proved capable of performing at the level of his teammate Miguel Oliveira, and there are some mitigating circumstances in his performance that are beyond his control. In 2024, he’ll have a new chance to prove his worth, now at Trackhouse Racing and with an updated Aprilia throughout the next year.
Raúl Fernández’s 2023 season:
Portugal GP: 11th in Sprint/DNF GP – 18th in the championship
Argentina GP: 14th in Sprint/14th in GP – 20th in the championship
Americas GP: 15th in Sprint/DNF GP – 22nd in the championship
Spanish GP: 14th in Sprint/15th in GP – 23rd in the championship
French GP: Did not participate in races due to injury – 14th in the championship
Italian GP: 19th in Sprint/17th in GP – 26th in the championship
German GP: 18th in Sprint/15th in GP – 26th in the championship
Dutch TT: 18th in Sprint/12th in GP – 23rd in the championship
British GP: 19th in Sprint/10th in GP – 20th in the championship
Austrian GP: 14th in Sprint/DNF GP – 20th in the championship
Catalan GP: 14th in Sprint/DNF GP – 20th in the championship
San Marino GP: 11th in Sprint/8th in GP – 21st in the championship
Indian GP: 9th in Sprint/10th in GP – 20th in the championship
Japanese GP: 10th in Sprint/9th in GP – 19th in the championship
Indonesian GP: 14th in Sprint/13th in GP – 19th in the championship
Australian GP: 16th in GP (no Sprint) – 20th in the championship
Thai GP: 14th in Sprint/15th in GP – 20th in the championship
Malaysian GP: 17th in Sprint/DNF GP – 20th in the championship
Qatari GP: 14th in Sprint/17th in GP – 20th in the championship
Valencia GP: 11th in Sprint/5th in GP – 20th in the championship