Raul Fernandez Leads Aprilia at Indonesian Grand Prix Practice

Raul Fernandez emerged as the fastest rider for Aprilia during the opening day of practice at the Indonesian Grand Prix in Mandalika. His performance placed him ahead of teammates Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin, who occupied the second and third positions, respectively.

Fernandez's lap times indicated a significant advantage, with only his fellow Aprilia riders coming within half a second of his pace. Marc Marquez followed in fifth, trailing by seven-tenths of a second. The Aprilia bikes demonstrated a clear edge in the high-speed sections of the track, particularly in the second sector, which surprised Fernandez given the margin.

While Fernandez expressed confidence in the bike's performance, he acknowledged the unique characteristics of the Mandalika circuit as particularly favorable for Aprilia. He noted that the medium rear tire provided him with a comfortable ride, enhancing his overall confidence. However, the day was marred by Ai Ogura's accident, which resulted in a fractured finger, preventing him from qualifying directly into Q2.