At the Austrian Grand Prix held at the Red Bull Ring, Aprilia stars Jorge Martin and Raul Fernandez faced major setbacks due to a MotoGP ride height device malfunction, disrupting their races on a highly anticipated weekend. The technical faults left both riders struggling to maintain competitive positions during the sprint, overshadowing what was expected to be a strong comeback for Martin after his injury recovery.
Jorge Martin’s Early Struggle and Recovery Attempt
Jorge Martin started the race from 14th position following a disappointing qualifying session but swiftly moved up to seventh by the first corner. However, his progress was halted when his ride height device failed to disengage, forcing him to bypass the second corner’s chicane. Martin described the moment of crisis:
“I had to go straight at the second corner,”
—Jorge Martin, MotoGP Rider.
“After that, I was in P16 and had to recover positions. I gave my 100%.”
—Jorge Martin, MotoGP Rider.
Determined to make the best of a tough situation, Martin pushed relentlessly and managed to claw back to tenth place. His final laps were marked by a fierce duel with LCR rider Johann Zarco, nearly earning a valuable point. Reflecting on his performance, Martin said,
“I caught Zarco on the last lap; I almost tried a move for that point,”
—Jorge Martin, MotoGP Rider.
“We are getting close to the top. This is the important thing, and I’m focused on my feelings, and today was a great day.”
—Jorge Martin, MotoGP Rider.
Raul Fernandez Forced to Retire Due to Similar Issues
Raul Fernandez, Martin’s teammate, also endured frustration when his rear ride height device malfunctioned, compelling him to retire just ten laps into the race. Starting ninth on the grid with promising prospects, Fernandez confronted abrupt challenges on track. He explained,
“We had a problem with the rear height device,”
—Raul Fernandez, MotoGP Rider.
“When I was in fifth place, I felt something was wrong. I still tried to push to finish the race, but it didn’t work out.”
—Raul Fernandez, MotoGP Rider.
Recurring Technical Failures Raise Questions on Device Reliability
The issues that struck Aprilia’s riders are not isolated in MotoGP history. Similar technical glitches with ride height devices have spoiled races before, notably in 2025 at the British Grand Prix when Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo was forced to abandon a strong lead under comparable circumstances. Such repeated failures highlight growing concerns about the dependability of these complex performance-enhancing components.
The events in Austria have cast a shadow over Aprilia’s campaign, emphasizing the fine line between technological advancement and vulnerability in high-stakes racing. With fans and teams anxious to see improvements, the spotlight now turns to the upcoming main race, where Aprilia aims to reverse its fortunes after an intense and unsettling sprint race experience.
