Raul Fernandez’s participation in the Australian Grand Prix is uncertain after the Trackhouse Aprilia rider pulled out of the Phillip Island Sprint with four laps remaining. He had qualified sixth and looked competitive in practice, but the physical load of the race proved too much for his injured hand.

The injury carried from Indonesia

Fernandez fractured two fingers in his collision with Marco Bezzecchi at the start of the Indonesian Sprint two weeks earlier. The injury included his right index finger, which he uses for the primary brake control. Trackhouse said Phillip Island placed greater physical demands on him than the Mandalika circuit, while the discomfort meant he could not continue beyond lap nine of the 13-lap Sprint.

Fernandez went for a medical assessment after retiring, and Trackhouse said that a further update would follow. His previous weekend in Indonesia had still produced a strong performance: he turned pole into second place in the Sprint and led the Grand Prix for 18 laps before Bezzecchi passed him and went on to win. Fernandez had also taken his first MotoGP victory at last year’s Australian Grand Prix.

Another Aprilia concern

The injury trouble followed Jorge Martin’s crash at Turn 8 during the same Phillip Island Sprint. Martin, then the championship leader, fell from second on lap eight while battling Marc Marquez for victory and was carried to the medical centre for checks. Marquez won the Sprint and opened a 10-point advantage in the standings ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix. Aprilia therefore faced an unsettled situation while the medical assessments of both riders continued.