Defending Australian Grand Prix winner Raul Fernandez has officially been named as the sixth full-time MotoGP rider sidelined from the ongoing Phillip Island race weekend. This unfortunate development compounds a severe injury crisis sweeping through the premier class paddock ahead of Sunday's main event.
Fernandez joins a growing list of absentees that includes Fermin Aldeguer of Gresini Ducati, Joan Mir and Luca Marini of Honda, Toprak Razgatlioglu representing Pramac Yamaha, and Jorge Martin of Aprilia.
The grid depletion has hit multiple teams hard, with Aldeguer, Mir, and Razgatlioglu sidelined due to various injuries and health issues. Marini was forced to throw in the towel after completing just two laps in practice, while Martin sustained his injury during the sprint race.
For Fernandez, the physical toll stems from an injury carried over from Mandalika, where he was forced to adopt a different braking technique following a right index finger fracture sustained in a sprint start crash. His deteriorating physical condition ultimately forced him to drop out of the Australian GP sprint entirely.
His Trackhouse squad has now confirmed that his Phillip Island weekend is finished, casting serious doubt over his participation in next weekend's upcoming round at Sepang, a venue renowned for its punishing braking zones. The team provided a detailed medical update regarding his current status.
Trackhouse explained, After the race, Fernandez went straight to a medical assessment with the MotoGP medical director Dr Angel Charte and it was found that while the finger fracture is stable, there is inflammation of the soft tissue around the fracture.
Despite the setback, Fernandez is scheduled to undergo another medical assessment on Thursday at Sepang, meaning he is still expected to travel and attend the race weekend. His absence, alongside the other sidelined riders, reduces the grand prix grid down to a sparse 18 bikes.
Only two of the six missing riders have received stand-in replacements for the event. Gresini has drafted in Iker Lecuona to pilot Aldeguer's Ducati, while Augusto Fernandez will complete the remainder of the season aboard Razgatlioglu's Pramac Yamaha.
While the withdrawals of Fernandez, Martin, and Marini all transpired throughout Saturday, Honda found itself completely unable to substitute for Mir because both of its test riders, Taka Nakagami and Aleix Espargaro, are currently sidelined with their own injuries. Consequently, Marini's late withdrawal leaves the factory Honda squad with zero bikes on the grid.
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