Trackhouse MotoGP team principal Davide Brivio has described Raul Fernandez’s crash during the Sepang pre-season test as “a little bit strange.”
The dramatic first day of testing for Aprilia was already marred by a severe highside crash involving reigning world champion Jorge Martin, who was taken to hospital for further medical checks. Adding to the team’s woes, Fernandez’s fall at Turn 9 resulted in a fractured metacarpal bone in his left hand and a broken pinkie toe, ruling him out of the remainder of the test.
Brivio: “He Was Calm, Taking His Time”
Brivio, speaking to MotoGP’s After the Flag, expressed surprise at Fernandez’s accident, considering the Spaniard had been riding cautiously up to that point.
“Actually, it’s a little bit strange because he was calm, he was taking his time,” Brivio said. “But unfortunately, he had a crash while braking into Turn 9.”
Fernandez will now return to Barcelona for surgery, with Brivio confirming that the team hopes for a swift recovery but will prioritize medical advice before setting any return targets.
“In his head, he wants to be back for Thailand—you know how riders are,” Brivio added. “But we’ll wait for the doctors’ assessments and see how things progress after surgery.”
Fernandez’s Recovery Timeline Uncertain
The injury is a setback for Fernandez, who also missed last year’s first pre-season test due to a crash. However, the 23-year-old remains optimistic about a quick recovery, recalling a similar injury he suffered three to four years ago, after which he was able to return to racing within a week.
“Of course, he wants to be there [for the Buriram test],” Brivio said. “I think he will undergo surgery with Dr. Xavier Mir, and from there, we’ll reassess his condition.”
Aprilia Faces Testing Setback
With Martin’s condition still unclear, Aprilia may have to complete the Sepang test with just two of its four full-time race riders. Despite the disruption, Brivio confirmed that rookie Ai Ogura’s testing programme will remain unchanged.
“No change,” Brivio stated. “We are quite pleased with how he is working, how he’s approaching MotoGP.”
Brivio emphasized that Ogura is still in a learning phase, gaining valuable experience in areas such as tyre management and electronic settings.
“Today, after three days of shakedown, we worked on used tyres and electronic settings to help him understand how the bike reacts when the tyres drop,” he explained. “There’s a lot to learn, but he’s taking a smart approach—asking questions and absorbing information.”
As Aprilia regroups after a chaotic start, they now prioritize Fernandez’s recovery and assess whether Martin can continue the test in the coming days.
