Raul Fernandez set the pace in Friday practice at Mandalika, putting Aprilia at the head of a 1-2-3 for the Indonesian MotoGP round. The Trackhouse rider finished ahead of factory riders Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi, while Pedro Acosta was fourth and the fastest rider from outside Aprilia.

Fernandez’s session was notable before the final soft-tyre run. Earlier, he had posted 1:29.793 on a medium rear tyre that had already completed eight laps, a performance that would have come close to securing direct passage to Q2. Marc Marquez managed 1:30.149 on the medium as Ducati’s leading rider. Fernandez then fitted fresh soft tyres and reduced the fuel load, cutting about one second from his lap time and ending the session 0.2 seconds ahead of Bezzecchi. Acosta was 0.669 seconds behind, with Marquez 0.701 seconds off the top time.

The medium-tyre pace is the bigger encouragement

Fernandez had expected Mandalika to work well for Aprilia because of its fast corners and flowing sections, but not to produce such a clear advantage. Although the soft tyre delivered the outright fastest lap, he placed greater importance on his feeling with the medium. The comfort and strength he found on that compound gave him confidence that the performance was not limited to a single qualifying-style lap.

Martin and Bezzecchi are carrying the pressure of a championship fight with Marquez, whereas Fernandez can focus on maximising his own result. He made clear that he does not want to become involved in the title battle or hinder Aprilia’s factory riders, but also sees a major opportunity for Trackhouse. Aprilia has said there will be no team orders, apart from asking its riders to leave one another more room, until they are mathematically out of title contention.

Mandalika also brings a useful recent reference for Fernandez. He took his first Sprint podium there last season, then went on to win Sprints at Assen and Mugello before claiming his first MotoGP Grand Prix victory at Silverstone. Ai Ogura, his Trackhouse team-mate, ended Friday 13th after a heavy FP1 crash caused substantial damage to one of the RS-GPs.