A sigh of relief for Raul Fernandez as he completes the crucial Sepang MotoGP Test.
After two seasons of injury-ridden tests, Raul Fernandez emerged from the 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test exhausted but unscathed, a welcome change from his previous experiences. The surprise MotoGP winner of 2025, riding for Trackhouse Aprilia, finished the three-day event in Malaysia with a respectable tenth place, just 0.843 seconds behind leader Alex Marquez of Gresini Ducati.
"It's a great feeling to finally finish a test feeling absolutely spent after three days of hard work," Fernandez said with a smile. "The last two years have been tough, so this is a huge relief."
But here's where it gets controversial... The test was particularly significant due to the focus on the aerodynamic package. With a decision on the aero package needed before the Thailand race, there was no room for error. Fernandez and his team had to be convinced about their choice, and they seem to have found their sweet spot.
"I'm thrilled with the decision we made regarding the aero package. It aligns perfectly with my riding style, and that's a huge boost for our performance," he explained.
However, the relief is not complete. There are still areas of the RS-GP that Fernandez is not entirely comfortable with, especially when it comes to time attack laps.
"My riding style just doesn't gel with the maximum grip offered by the soft tyres during time attack. We need to figure out how to unlock the full potential of the soft tyres," he admitted.
Fortunately, Fernandez and Trackhouse have a shining example to follow. Factory star Marco Bezzecchi topped the MotoGP timesheets on the final afternoon and finished second overall, just behind Alex Marquez.
"Aprilia has done an incredible job, and the bike is back in the competitive zone. Bezzecchi's performance is a testament to that. We need to understand their improvements and implement them in our time attack strategy," Fernandez said.
As for his team-mate, Ai Ogura, he set the twelfth fastest lap time, adding to the team's overall performance.
With 20 years of experience in the paddock, Peter has witnessed the rise and fall of legends like Valentino Rossi and the challenges faced by Marc Marquez with his injuries. He is well-placed to comment on the recent Suzuki exit and the current MotoGP landscape.
So, what do you think? Is Trackhouse Aprilia on the right track with their aero package decision? And how crucial is it to master the time attack strategy? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
