Raúl Fernández criticizes Marco Bezzecchi after Mandalika crash

Raúl Fernández secured his first career MotoGP pole position during Saturday qualifying at the Mandalika International Street Circuit in Indonesia, but the day ended in a crash and a fractured finger following a first-corner collision with fellow Aprilia rider Marco Bezzecchi. Trackhouse Racing addressed the sprint race incident, while Aprilia team management reacted to the chaotic start.

The First-Corner Collision at Mandalika

The maneuver brought Bezzecchi’s rear wheel directly into the path of Fernández, who was being pushed wide toward the exterior curb. Both Aprilia machines tangled and slid out into the gravel trap, instantly erasing any chance of converting their front-running pace into a sprint victory.

Raúl Fernández Slams Marco Bezzecchi’s Maneuver

Speaking to media gathered in the paddock after being checked by medical staff, Fernández made no attempt to hide his anger toward his fellow manufacturer representative. The Trackhouse rider revealed he sustained a broken finger with a small fissure in his hand, though medical officials declared him fit to try participating in Sunday’s warm-up session. “Right now I am a bit numb. The fury and rage inside me outweigh the pain,” Fernández said, noting that his crash count remains remarkably low with only four accidents across sprint and grand prix races all year. “What hurts most is the frustration of knowing Marco did something he shouldn’t have done. We both know we are Aprilia riders with a pace that puts us slightly ahead of the rest, and he focused entirely on pushing me off the track at the braking zone.” Fernández added that pre-race strategy discussions had explicitly emphasized avoiding mutual interference given their superior speed, accusing Bezzecchi of behaving unprofessionally by focusing solely on winning the initial braking duel rather than managing the broader race context.

Marco Bezzecchi Defends the Incident as a Racing Incident

Offering a starkly different perspective in the media pen, Marco Bezzecchi maintained a calm demeanor while addressing journalists about the crash. The Italian rider insisted the contact was nothing more than standard opening-lap jostling where every competitor must constantly adjust their racing line. “Simply a racing incident. Ultimately, the start is a moment where we are all very close to each other, so many times you have to adapt your trajectory a bit," Bezzecchi explained, noting that he heard the impact and immediately found himself on the ground. When asked about Fernández’s visible anger—which included ironic applause from the grandstands—Bezzecchi shrugged off the reaction as a temporary emotional outburst. “If Raúl is angry, I’m sorry, but he touched me. Ultimately, there's no reason to be angry, neither he with me nor I with him. I couldn’t disappear and neither could he.”

Trackhouse Team Boss Davide Brivio Retracts Initial Criticism

The friction extended inside the team garage where Trackhouse principal Davide Brivio initially reacted with fury to the multi-bike chaos. Speaking to international broadcasters immediately after the checkered flag, Brivio laid direct blame on Jorge Martín and Marc Márquez for launching overly aggressive moves from the second and fifth grid spots. However, after reviewing official telemetry and race footage with a clearer head, the Italian team director issued a complete retraction during an interview with DAZN. Brivio admitted that his initial remarks made in the heat of the moment were incorrect, pointing instead to internal team dynamics. “Marco went too wide to defend against Raúl and opened the door for the rest to enter,” Brivio stated, noting that both Aprilia riders ruined a golden opportunity to dominate the race on pure speed.

Medical Status and Sunday Grid Uncertainties

With Sunday morning’s warm-up session approaching at the Mandalika International Street Circuit, Fernández faces a race against time to prove his physical readiness. Medical personnel at the circuit medical center confirmed a major fracture in his hand alongside severe inflammation, leaving his participation in the main Grand Prix start as a game-time decision pending Sunday morning checks.