MotoGP in Silverstone: A Wildcard and Several Replacement Riders

– Yamaha test rider Augusto Fernandez will once again start as a wildcard rider at the British Grand Prix in Silverstone this weekend. For the 28-year-old Spaniard, this is already the fourth MotoGP appearance of the season.

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Fernandez, who is currently in his second season as a test rider for Yamaha’s MotoGP team, has already competed as a wildcard rider this year at the races in Spain, Catalonia, and the Netherlands. Now follows his fourth appearance at the traditional British race track.

Yamaha continues to benefit from the extended testing and deployment opportunities within the MotoGP concession system. The Japanese manufacturer is in category D and is allowed a total of six wildcard entries per season.

Yamaha has already fully used the three available wildcards for the first half of the season with Fernandez. In the second half of the season, the team has three more opportunities. The Silverstone entry is the first of these.

Development tests in Jerez as preparation

Before his wildcard appearance, Fernandez completed two private test days last week together with Andrea Dovizioso in Jerez, Spain. Under the extremely hot conditions at the Andalusian race track, Yamaha’s development team worked intensively on the future of the project.

The focus was mainly on the new 850cc motorcycle being developed for the 2027 MotoGP season. However, Fernandez was also able to do some laps with the current 1000cc bike and fine-tune the setup and work with the Michelin tires to prepare for his deployment in Silverstone.

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After the race in Great Britain, Yamaha theoretically still has two more wildcard entries for the last ten races of the season. If the team uses these opportunities, Fernandez is considered the most likely candidate.

Lecuona and Pol Espargaro step in

The British Grand Prix will see two other riders besides Fernandez who do not belong to the regular MotoGP field. Iker Lecuona, currently a rider in the Ducati factory team of the Superbike World Championship, is stepping in for Gresini for Fermin Aldeguer, who is recovering from a vertebra injury.

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Additionally, Pol Espargaro has been confirmed as a replacement rider at Tech3-KTM. The Spaniard takes over the motorcycle from Maverick Vinales, who is still struggling with his injured shoulder and at the same time has to clarify his further situation with KTM.

Cal Crutchlow remains part of the MotoGP field in Silverstone as well. The Brit, who ended his active career at the end of 2020 as an LCR-Honda rider, has been riding for Johann Zarco since Mugello, who is recovering from a knee injury. According to his team, the Frenchman’s comeback is planned for September.

Medical checks for Bezzecchi and Bagnaia

Before the upcoming race weekend, two top riders have medical checks scheduled. Marco Bezzecchi and Francesco Bagnaia must be examined on Thursday at the Medical Centre of the Silverstone race track before they can receive final clearance to start.

Bezzecchi underwent surgery on his left collarbone after his serious crash at the Sachsenring on July 12. During the summer break, the Aprilia rider also used the time for a routine procedure on his left knee, where an existing injury was treated.

Bagnaia also used the break for a medical procedure. The Ducati rider had a compartment syndrome in his right arm treated with an endoscopic fasciotomy on July 15 at the Orthopedic Clinic of the University Hospital Modena.

Both riders were already seen last week during training with the other members of the VR46 rider academy at the Misano World Circuit. There they completed training sessions with near-series sport motorcycles to prepare for their return to racing this weekend.

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