The weekend for Raul Fernandez at Mandalika turned from a dream start into a bitter disappointment following a dramatic first-lap collision with fellow Aprilia rider Marco Bezzecchi during the MotoGP sprint race. Saturday morning had initially delivered a historic milestone for the Trackhouse Racing rider as he secured his very first premier-class pole position, only for the afternoon to end in the gravel trap.
The chaotic chain of events unfolded immediately as the field surged toward the opening braking zone. The factory Aprilia contender ran wide, forcing Fernandez toward the outer kerb before a sudden accordion effect triggered a loss of grip and a high-speed impact between the two RS-GP machines. Both riders slid out of contention, instantly destroying a realistic shot at a major podium result.
Visibly furious after the crash, the Spanish rider expressed his immediate frustration with sarcastic applause from the grandstands before unleashing a scathing verbal attack. The heavy fall left him with a fractured finger, casting serious doubt on his physical ability to participate in the upcoming grand prix warm-up sessions and Sunday main event.
Addressing the media with severe discontent, he did not hold back in criticizing the factory team representative for an ill-judged maneuver. "The worst thing is the frustration of knowing that Marco did something he shouldn’t have done," Fernandez stated, emphasizing his utter disbelief at the aggressive tactics deployed during the opening stages.
He further revealed that a specific pre-race briefing had explicitly outlined the strategy to avoid mutual interference given their strong pace. Instead, according to the Spaniard, the aggressive push completely ignored team harmony and handed a distinct advantage straight to their manufacturer rivals.
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