RAUL FERNANDEZ SETS MANDALIKA LAP RECORD IN INDONESIAN GP PRACTICE

Raul Fernandez turned a quiet start to the Indonesian Grand Prix into a record-setting performance in Friday’s delayed MotoGP time practice, putting his Trackhouse Aprilia at the top of the timesheets.

The Spaniard had finished fifth in FP1 with a 1:30.5, but the afternoon session began more than 30 minutes late after a power outage. Fernandez quickly showed strong pace on what appeared to be race tyres, taking the lead and stringing together a series of consistent laps. His first attack also helped Marco Bezzecchi move into second.

Fernandez saved his fastest effort for the closing stages, setting a 1:28.725. That was 0.219 seconds quicker than Bezzecchi and established a new lap record. Marc Marquez was fifth, seven-tenths off the pace. Fernandez had already finished third in last year’s Indonesian sprint and sixth in the Grand Prix.

“We knew we would be fast here, although that was specifically about our race pace. We learned that last year,” Fernandez said. “But we didn’t expect the attack to go this well.” He added that the lap record mattered less to him than the consistency of his pace: “We were really good for several laps. The times on the medium tyre would also have been enough for Q2.”

With Bezzecchi, Marquez and Jorge Martin involved in the championship fight, Fernandez said he intended to stay focused on his own race rather than become part of their contest. “For me, this is an opportunity to enjoy. I look after myself, and that may help me stay out of everything. I don’t want to be caught in the middle, and I don’t want to get in Marco and Jorge’s way — they have enough to deal with Marc. My advantage is that I’m riding with no pressure.”

Fernandez identified the first sector as an area where he could still improve, noting that Aprilia’s factory riders were stronger there. Overall, however, he felt the circuit suited the bike exceptionally well. “If you designed a track specifically for the Aprilia, it would be Mandalika,” he said, praising Trackhouse’s work and adding: “I’m enjoying it, so we’ll try to keep this going.”

Ai Ogura was the only Aprilia rider outside the top ten in time practice and would seek to join his teammates in Q2.