MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Raul Fernandez has revealed that the shoulder injury he sustained late last season is still causing discomfort, despite securing a podium finish at the 2026 Thai MotoGP with Trackhouse Racing.
The Spaniard suffered a partial shoulder dislocation in a high-speed crash during the 2025 Portuguese Grand Prix, forcing him to withdraw from that event. Although he returned the following week and narrowly missed out on victory in Valencia, the injury has not fully subsided. Visible discomfort resurfaced during warm-up at Buriram, where Fernandez admitted he experienced another unsettling movement in his left shoulder.
“Still, since Portugal last year, I have some problems with the shoulder. I don’t feel at 100% with my left shoulder,” Fernandez explained.
“This morning I had some strange movement in one corner and I felt something unusual. Immediately after warm-up, I went to the doctor to check everything was under control.”
Following medical evaluation and taping treatment, Fernandez reported feeling stable for the 26-lap grand prix and encountered no major issues during the race itself. The result was a third-place finish, matching his sprint podium from Saturday and marking one of his strongest MotoGP weekends to date.
Riding the satellite Aprilia package, Fernandez demonstrated competitive pace throughout the weekend. He qualified third and at one stage looked set to challenge factory counterpart Marco Bezzecchi for second place in the main race. However, significant rear tyre degradation in the closing laps limited his ability to sustain that charge.
“The race was good. We managed it well and I felt comfortable with the bike. But I still don’t have everything fully under control,” he said.
“Until the last six laps I had second place. I tried, but I had many problems with the rear tyre; it was almost finished.”
Despite standing on the podium, Fernandez conceded that such a result exceeded internal expectations. The primary objective remains consistent top-eight finishes rather than regular podium contention.
“To be honest, we expected to be in the top five, not on the podium. As I said during pre-season, we are riders who need to think about top eight across the year. If we have the opportunity to fight for the podium, we must try. But it’s not our real target.”
The performance highlights the upward trajectory of the Aprilia package in 2026, yet Fernandez’s lingering shoulder issue introduces an additional physical variable over a demanding 22-round calendar. Managing recovery while maintaining competitive consistency will be essential as the championship moves to its next phase.
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Baca Juga
Raul Fernandez mengaku cedera bahu lamanya masih mengganggu meski finis podium di MotoGP Thailand 2026 bersama Trackhouse Aprilia.
Pecco Bagnaia mengakui Ducati mengalami kemunduran usai finis kesembilan di MotoGP Thailand 2026 dan tertinggal dalam persaingan awal musim.
Maverick Vinales mengaku kehilangan grip depan KTM usai akhir pekan sulit MotoGP 2026 dan menargetkan perbaikan pada seri Brasil.
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