TRACKHOUSE RIDERS EXPECT TO RACE WITHOUT APRILIA TEAM ORDERS AT MANDALIKA

Trackhouse Aprilia riders Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura say they are not yet thinking about team orders as MotoGP heads to Mandalika, with both still mathematically in the championship fight and Aprilia declining to favour one rider while that remains the case.

The title race tightened at Motegi, where Marc Marquez scored a double and moved to within two points of championship leader Jorge Martin. Martin’s factory Aprilia team-mate Marco Bezzecchi is third, 49 points back. Ogura trails Martin by 96 points, while Fernandez is 117 behind. With six rounds left and 222 points still available, both Trackhouse riders remain within Aprilia’s mathematical threshold.

Fernandez, who earned his first Sprint podium at Mandalika last year, said his immediate priority is to pursue the best possible result. “If we can win, we need to win,” he said. He added that any change in approach would be considered later: “If in the last two races we need to think about the title, we will see in the last two.” For now, he said, “we are racing for Trackhouse, and we need to take the maximum for them.”

Ogura also indicated he would not make a reckless move against either factory rider, but would still race if a safe opportunity arose. “If I have Jorge or Bez in front of me for sure I will not do something stupid,” he said. “But if I feel I can overtake then safely, then for sure I will try.” He said the decision would depend on the circumstances, adding that a rider who believes he can pass normally will try to do so.

Aprilia arrives in Indonesia at full strength, unlike last year, when Martin and Ogura both missed the race through injury. The RS-GP was competitive at Mandalika in 2024, and the circuit is viewed as a chance for the manufacturer to gain ground on Marquez. All four Aprilia riders have won a grand prix this season.

Fernandez welcomed the prospect of the Aprilias battling together, but cautioned against drawing too much from last year’s form. “It can be funny, if it’s between all of us,” he said, before noting that the team must assess the current conditions, including having one fewer tyre. He said that if he and the bike deliver their full potential, “we don’t need to think about another rider.”

After winning at the similarly flowing Silverstone circuit in August, Fernandez said he was pleased to be at Mandalika and eager to see whether he could find his form on the track.