After the first day of action at the Indonesian Grand Prix, Raul Fernández has shown that his speed is an unmistakable sign of Aprilia’s strength. The riders of the Italian brand have occupied the top three places in practice, with Fernández leading followed by factory riders Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martín.
The time difference of Fernández compared to his competitors has been notable, with only his Aprilia teammates less than half a second behind. The fifth-placed rider, Marc Márquez, was seven tenths off Fernández’s time, underscoring the team’s dominance.
Fernández expressed his surprising satisfaction with the performance of his vehicle on a circuit designed for its characteristics. “We expected this type of track to benefit us, but the results exceed our expectations,” commented the rider.
Confidence in long-term performance
The rider revealed that while the pace is promising, his confidence has also increased with tire options. Fernández pointed out that he feels more comfortable with the medium tire, a feature that will be key for Sunday’s race.
Despite Aprilia’s displayed superiority, Fernández does not want to relieve pressure off his teammates. “I’m here to enjoy and I don’t want to interfere with the championship fight. The lack of pressure can play in my favor,” he added, remaining optimistic about his chances during the competition.
Situation of Ai Ogura
The only negative note for the team was the fall of Ai Ogura during practice, which left him without the opportunity to qualify for Q2, thus affecting his options over the weekend.
After a promising start, the Indonesian Grand Prix presents a great opportunity for Aprilia and especially for Fernández, who seeks to consolidate his performance in this exciting season.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
SourceID: SRC_4a12284719352c47f38f7966279e58ebd8589fd4