Jonathan Rea OUT for the Portuguese round. Replacing him will be former MotoGP rider Augusto Fernandez.
After a serious crash during WorldSBK testing, Jonathan Rea underwent successful surgery on his left foot. However, the recovery time will prevent the six-time world champion from participating in the second round of the MotoGP season.
In his place, the new Yamaha tester, Augusto Fernandez, will take to the track. The Spanish rider, who won the Moto2 championship in 2022, raced for two seasons with KTM in the premier class without achieving the desired results. This year, he begins a new adventure as a test rider for the Japanese manufacturer, as well as the opportunity to replace Rea in the second race of the WorldSBK championship.
Augusto Fernandez’s words:
The Spanish said: “First of all, I wish Jonathan Rea a speedy recovery and thank Yamaha for this opportunity. It will be my first time on an R1 and also in WorldSBK. I’m looking forward to the Portimao test to get my first feeling with the R1.”
Niccolò Canepa’s words:
The Road Racing Sporting Manager of Yamaha Motor Europe said: “We really miss Jonathan here in Phillip Island, but we’re happy that the surgery went well and that he has begun his recovery process. We hope to see him back at 100% and racing again as soon as possible. In the meantime, we’ve spoken with Augusto and Yamaha Motor Racing about the possibility of filling in for Jonathan in Portimao, and he is very happy to do so.
He knows the circuit, and with the test before the race, he will have the chance to get familiar with the R1 WorldSBK. We thank Yamaha Motor Racing and the MotoGP™ team for their support, and we look forward to welcoming Augusto to the team and the WorldSBK paddock” , he concluded.
Photo: Augusto Fernandez