Raul Fernandez began the MotoGP season with a remarkable performance in Buriram, Thailand, showcasing his Aprilia bike’s capabilities and his own racing skills. Initially facing the challenge of starting in Q1, Fernandez set a competitive lap time of 1’28.784, positioning himself near the weekend’s fastest riders, including Bezzecchi and Marc Marquez. This effort marked a clear indication that Aprilia intends to push back against Ducati’s longstanding dominance.
Securing a Front-Row Spot and Sprint Podium Boosts Confidence
After his impressive Q1 showing, Fernandez advanced to Q2, where he earned a spot on the front row for the race. His performance in the sprint race rewarded him with a bronze medal, adding to his enthusiasm early in the season. Reflecting on his progress, Fernandez stated,
“I had never scored points in the first race,”
highlighting this as a personal achievement. Observing the intense duel between Pedro Acosta and Marc Marquez, Fernandez expressed his view on the penalty handed out, saying,
“I don’t agree, I only saw respect between them.”
Race Effort and Team Strategy Played Crucial Roles
Fernandez pushed hard until the race’s end, crediting his team with providing the right support, especially through the use of soft tires during qualifying. He noted,
“The team managed to give me something extra with the soft tyre to improve the flying lap, and we managed to take a step forward.”
Despite this progress, Fernandez acknowledged there is still room for growth, explaining that the bike is not yet in perfect tune for his style. He described moments during the race where he focused on maintaining his position alongside Jorge Martin, trying to protect his front tire without being able to close the gap to Acosta and Marquez.
“It was important to start the season well. I’ve never scored points in the first race of the season, so it means we’ve learned from past mistakes,”
he remarked. Though satisfied with the opening, Fernandez admitted improvements are necessary:
“The bike isn’t exactly how I want it yet. I’m satisfied, but we still need to improve some aspects.”
Areas Needing Improvement Identified by Fernandez
Consistency during braking emerged as an area Fernandez aims to enhance. He confessed,
“I have to try to be more consistent when braking. It’s up to me. When I’m entering a corner, I don’t have everything under control.”
This openness to self-critique underlines his determination to refine his technique as the championship progresses.
Insight into the Acosta-Marquez Duel and Race Dynamics
Fernandez watched closely the fierce battle between Pedro Acosta and Marc Marquez and felt confident that the riders maintained mutual respect amid aggressive maneuvers. He said,
“I don’t think so. When I saw the way they were overtaking each other, I saw a lot of respect. You know when there’s respect between riders, but I was also trying to stay focused on my race.”
Reflecting on his role as a spectator behind the leaders, he emphasized the learning opportunities such high-level competition provides, reminding that he had limited chances to contest with them last season:
“We need time. We’re not where we want to be yet.”
Addressing a controversial moment from the duel, Fernandez expressed his disagreement with the penalty given to Marc Marquez, explaining the physical challenge of maneuvering these powerful bikes under intense conditions. He stated,
“Normally, I don’t like to get into these situations, but I think this is MotoGP, and they had a lot of respect for each other. With these bikes, when you have a slight wheelie, you can’t change direction. If you look at the action when Marc touched Pedro, he was in that situation and couldn’t change his trajectory. I don’t agree with the penalty because that’s the beauty of this sport. I won’t say anything else, but I think that if you want to keep this type of racing, if you want to show that this is the best sport in the world, you need to have these kinds of battles.”
Support System and Mental Approach Behind Fernandez’s Performance
Fernandez credited key figures such as Davide Brivio and his manager Paco for helping him maintain focus by separating external distractions from his racing mindset. He emphasized,
“In the last year, there have been two very important people apart from my family: Davide (Brivio) and my manager Paco, who made me understand that the focus of everything is getting on the bike and leaving everything else outside. What we have no control over is up to them.”
This support has allowed him to rediscover his confidence, affirming,
“They helped me on a sporting and personal level. However, I don’t see it as a claim, simply as proof that I can do it on the bike, that I haven’t forgotten how to ride. To do this, I had to clear my head of everything and just enjoy myself, and that’s what I’m doing.”
Outlook on Upcoming Race and Season Ambitions
Looking ahead to the next race, Fernandez expects a challenging event due to the length of the race and issues with rear tire wear, although he acknowledges improvements Aprilia has made in this area. His goal is to place firmly within the top five spots while being cautious not to make critical errors.
“It will be a difficult race because there are a lot of laps and we have rear tyre wear issues, even though we have improved in this area as a brand. I believe we have the basis to be in the top 5, that’s the goal, but we mustn’t make any mistakes,”
he commented.
He remains realistic about the possibilities, stating,
“If we finish 6th or 7th, it will still be a good experience. The goal is to finish the race and gain experience by giving our all, and if we’re lucky, maybe we can fight for the podium, otherwise it will be experience because, after all, it’s the first race and the championship is still long.”
