MotoGP, Aprilia clipped its wings: Raul Fernandez raced without them at Phillip Island

Looking at Raul Fernandez 's Aprilia in the Phillip Island race feels like going back in time, and not because of a vintage livery. In fact, the Spanish rider's Trackhouse RS-GP was missing something: its front wings. It wasn't a problem due to an accident but a precise choice.

By regulation parts of the aerodynamics can be removed on the Australian circuit, and Noale's engineers wanted to do without the large front spoilers. In fact, the engineers at Noale asked Raul to do this experiment, and the rider agreed.

The characteristics of the circuit allowed  for it because no hard braking an no fast acceleration are needed, the two points where aerodynamic load makes a difference. Fernandez started from 6th place and, after a bad start (in 13th), he ended the race in 10th. With his "smooth" Aprlia, he came within 3 seconds of Viñales' winged one.