Trackhouse rider Raul Fernandez arrives at the Australian Grand Prix with a lingering injury that still limits his performance. Two weeks ago, a first-lap clash with Aprilia teammate Marco bezzecchi at the Indonesian Grand Prix sprint left him with a fractured index finger on his right hand. The crash forced him to brake with his middle finger during the following day’s race, where he still managed a second-place finish behind Bezzecchi.
Recovery status and comparison with last year
Speaking on Thursday at Phillip Island, Fernandez acknowledged that his condition is still below the ideal level. He said, “My condition compared to last year is a little bit worse, but compared with Mandalika, it is much better.” The phrase highlights that while the injury has not fully healed, it is a step forward from the situation he faced a fortnight ago. He added, “It can be a good weekend. For sure, the condition that I have now is not 100%, so I will have to manage with the team, and then we see what we can do.
Fernandez also reminded the audience that he crashed on Saturday at Mandalika and still raced on Sunday, a testament to his determination. “Here, I will race [as well]. Then we will see,” he noted, stressing that the unpredictable weather at the venue will add another layer of difficulty. “There are too many things that we cannot control. The first thing is the weather, which can change here every moment, and then we see how we can manage physically because I think this will be the more difficult thing for me.”
Past results that fuel confidence
Fernandez’s connection to Phillip Island runs deep. Last year he secured his maiden MotoGP victory there, climbing from fourth on the grid to beat VR46 rider Fabio di Giannantonio by 1.5 seconds. That win came in a season where two usual front-runners, Marc Márquez and Jorge Martin, were absent due to injuries, a circumstance Fernandez acknowledges when he says, “I am not thinking about possible placings. The thing is we have to work day by day, especially to see how my finger is during the weekend.“
His performance in Indonesia underscored his speed: he topped practice, earned pole position, and led most of the race before the injury forced a late-stage challenge from Bezzecchi. The combination of that pole and the recent podium demonstrates that, if the finger holds, he could be a genuine contender at the Australian round.
Team dynamics and the question of internal orders
Beyond his own fitness, Fernandez touched on the broader strategic picture within Aprilia. After finishing second at Mandalika, ahead of both Bezzecchi and Martin, the Spanish rider hinted at a meeting held on Thursday. He downplayed the event, stating, “We had a coffee, not a formal meeting.” No explicit team orders were confirmed, leaving the possibility that the manufacturer could request the two Trackhouse riders—Fernandez and Ai Ogura—to prioritize
The stakes are high because the two Aprilia riders together can either block rivals such as Marc Márquez or take points away from him, influencing the championship battle. While no concrete directives were announced, the conversation suggests that Aprilia may consider collaborative tactics as the season reaches its climax.
Looking ahead, Fernandez remains cautiously optimistic. He admits that he is not at “100%,” but he also emphasizes his willingness to race regardless of the odds. “There are lots of things we need to keep an eye on. That includes the weather. It can change at any moment here. We have to be prepared for that,” he concluded, highlighting the balance between physical limitation, weather unpredictability, and strategic considerations that will shape his performance at the Australian Grand Prix.
