RAUL FERNANDEZ BLAMES MISANO PRACTICE PACE ON HIS OWN ERRORS

Raul Fernandez admitted that his lack of pace in Misano’s MotoGP practice session was largely down to him, after the Silverstone winner ended the day only 12th-fastest. The result left the Trackhouse Aprilia rider facing an extra hurdle for qualifying, with Fernandez set to go through Q1, while the other two Aprilia entries were already inside the top-10. Ai Ogura was absent again this weekend and was not replaced by Trackhouse.

Speaking after practice, Fernandez said the outcome was not what he and his team had planned. “For sure it is not the result that we expected, but it was my mistake today,” he said. He explained that although he had been running strongly earlier in the session, his final attempt didn’t come together. “I was all the Practice in the top-six, top-seven, but in the last run I made two or three mistakes in the last two or three laps that I couldn’t improve my time. So, it was my mistake.”

Fernandez also pointed to the feel of the bike not matching what he expected, adding that changes made between FP1 and practice may not have suited his riding style. “For sure, also the feeling is not the one I expected, also I think that the change that we made between FP1 and Practice doesn’t help my riding style.”

Despite that, he insisted that the path to improvement is more about his own execution than hardware. “I think it’s more my job than the bike’s. In some corners I am not in the line that I need to turn the bike, so it’s more my job.”

To prepare for qualifying, Fernandez said he will study data from Marco Bezzecchi, describing it as a valuable reference point for finding the right lines. “The good thing is I have a really good data from Marco [Bezzecchi] – for sure I will study it tonight and for tomorrow I will try to find a solution in terms of lines because I think it’s more my lines than the bike.”

He then broke down where the problem showed up on the lap. While Misano is often associated with high-speed Turn 11 and the braking sequence that follows, Fernandez said his difficulties were more obvious in the tight corners early in the circuit. “Especially in the first sector I am not taking the good line in the first corner and it doesn’t heal until the back straight,” he said.

Fernandez described the compromise he needs to make for the next session. “So, there I think is the compromise that I need to find for tomorrow.” He also noted that his performance improves later on the lap, suggesting the bike and his pace are not entirely off—rather, the issue is concentrated in the first and second sectors. “In the fast ones, for example in the fast part of the track I am second in the sector three. So, I feel good, but where I have more problems is the first and second sector.”

He linked that to the cornering sequence, saying the trouble stems from the first corners. “It’s a consequence of the first and second corners.”

Looking ahead, Fernandez stressed the importance of staying calm and getting the lines right. “It is more my line, so I need to be calm.” He added that when results come, it’s usually because everything is under control and the rider can ride with steadiness. “The good thing is when you get good results, you know that if you have everything under control and you have calm, everything will come again.”

With qualifying approaching and the need to navigate Q1, Fernandez expressed confidence that the next day will feel easier once he corrects the line and execution issues. “So I believe that tomorrow everything will come easier than today.”