FERNÁNDEZ DOUBTS SEPANG START AND SEES PHILLIP ISLAND RAIN AS A SIGN

Raul Fernandez’s return to Phillip Island ended with a painful withdrawal and a race that never took place. The Trackhouse Aprilia rider, who won at the circuit last year, had already stopped during Saturday’s sprint after nine of its 13 laps. A broken right index finger, sustained in a crash at Mandalika, made it difficult to control the bike; he normally uses that finger for braking and had to alter his controls.

“I had to completely change my riding style,” Fernandez told DAZN Spain. “This track has a lot of fast changes of direction, and I could no longer manage them.” He later explained that the problem went beyond simply riding: “It was about managing the changes in direction, and I just couldn’t do it. That was the main reason.”

His weekend had begun more promisingly. Despite a heavy crash in Friday’s first practice, he set the second-fastest time in qualifying. But the strain of riding proved too much over race distance. After he retired from the sprint, MotoGP’s medical director examined him and found the fracture stable, but the surrounding soft tissue was inflamed. Fernandez was declared unfit for Sunday’s race, with rehabilitation planned to reduce the inflammation.

The Australian Grand Prix was then cancelled because poor visibility prevented the medical helicopter from operating safely. Instead of racing, riders completed a farewell lap behind the safety car in the rain. Fernandez was set to miss the race regardless because of his injury, but the cancellation meant he avoided missing a race while his rivals competed. It was not the send-off he wanted at a circuit where he had triumphed a year earlier. His 2025 victory leaves him as Phillip Island’s last Australian Grand Prix winner before the event moves to Adelaide next year.

Fernandez said the circuit deserved a proper conclusion. “Australia, with this incredible track, deserves a race and a grand finale,” he told DAZN. The riders’ parade lap paid tribute to the fans, but the rain-soaked end to the weekend also felt meaningful to him. “I believe in signs, and I think this is a kind of sign for us to return to this beautiful track in the future,” he said. “It seems like it’s crying, begging us not to leave.”

His recovery will be assessed in Malaysia on Thursday, before a decision is made about whether he can take part in the next round. Fernandez was cautious about his prospects, saying, “For me, it will be difficult to ride in Sepang.” The circuit’s many heavy braking zones are a particular concern for his injured hand.