Sepang out for Raul Fernandez: Broken finger causes problems

Aprilia loses a rider at Sepang – The pain in his broken index finger is too severe – Raul Fernandez is returning to Spain immediately for treatment

Whilst Aprilia factory rider Jorge Martin was declared fit to race despite a broken right wrist following the first practice session at Sepang, the race weekend in Malaysia is over for his Trackhouse team-mate Raul Fernandez.

The Spaniard broke his right index finger on 10 October in a crash at the start of the Sprint race at Mandalika (Indonesia). Nevertheless, he was able to compete in the Grand Prix there and finished second.

Two weeks later, things proved more difficult for Fernandez at the Australian Grand Prix. On the one hand, the circuit layout at Phillip Island was more demanding on the right hand than that at Mandalika.

On the other hand, he crashed during Friday’s practice session. Due to severe pain, Fernandez was forced to retire from the sprint after eight laps. The soft tissue around the fractured finger had become inflamed.

He was declared unfit for the Australian Grand Prix. In the end, the race did not take place anyway due to the weather conditions. A week later, however, there was no noticeable improvement in the condition of his finger.

As early as Thursday in Sepang, the 26-year-old stated that he felt worse than he had in Australia. Fernandez completed five laps in Friday morning’s practice session before returning to the pits.

MotoGP doctor Dr Angel Charte examined the finger and declared the Spaniard unfit to ride for the remainder of the weekend. The focus is now on ensuring the finger injury heals as well as possible.

Fernandez is due to fly back to Spain

“Raul was provisionally declared fit yesterday,” Trackhouse team principal Davide Brivio explained to MotoGP.com, “with a further examination this morning, but the pain is simply too severe.”

“He is, in a sense, in the most critical phase of the healing process, because this is precisely when the fracture is healing or stabilising. This is the most delicate moment, when the pain is at its most intense.”

“Not to mention that a crash could, of course, make the situation far worse. So Dr Charte came round, examined him, spoke to Raul and declared him unfit to ride this weekend.”

This could be the end of the weekend for @25RaulFernandez 😔

He seems to be in pain

#MalaysianGP 🇲🇾 https://t.co/BIo5RDm41h

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) 30 October 2026

“We’re now taking this opportunity to send him home as soon as possible and let him work in Spain with his physiotherapist and the appropriate equipment so that he’ll be fit again for Qatar.”

“According to the doctor, this seems to be the crucial week for his recovery. That’s why we’re trying to make the most of the coming days as intensively as possible, so that he’ll be back on the grid in Qatar.”

The Qatar Grand Prix is set to go ahead as planned this coming weekend, despite the tense situation in the Middle East. Fernandez is now flying from Kuala Lumpur to Spain for treatment and is then expected to travel on to Doha.

“Yes, he’ll probably need manual therapy, a hyperbaric chamber or whatever else is appropriate – simply the full treatment programme,” said Brivio. “ This week could, let’s say, be extremely important for his recovery.”

Aprilia is therefore represented in Malaysia by just two fit riders: Marco Bezzecchi in the factory team and Ai Ogura at Trackhouse. Martin got through the first practice session, but it remains to be seen how his wrist will hold up as the weekend progresses and he completes more laps.