MotoGP Assen Day 1, Raul Fernandez (Aprilia/2): "In Brno, I felt strange, but today I found myself again."

Raul Fernandez is doing better, and it shows at Assen. The Spanish rider, who has been formidable on numerous occasions at the start of the 2026 season, was extremely reduced in Brno less than a week agoHowever, he still showed up at the start. This time it's different: he's in good form, and the Aprilia RS-GP is performing extremely well in the cathedral, a circuit where it has always had good results. Raul is ready to unleash his full potential.

Second in the standings, he was only behind Marco Bezzecchi, factory driver for the Noale firm and incidentally leader of the world championship. « After Brno, I felt strange, even physically: my body was reacting oddly, I wasn't in my elementToday, however, I found myself again: energy, concentration, I was riding the way I wanted. I had really missed that in Brno. It was a beautiful day, and we saw that the bike is very competitive. I am happy with the work done. » he declared to the microphones of Sky Sports.

 

 

He is looking forward to the Grand Prix more than the Sprint, an event which, strangely enough, suits him as well as if not better than the Sunday race: as a reminder, he won the short format at Mugello. « I'm looking forward to competing in both, but I'm enjoying the Sunday race more and more: it's a more "normal" race, we're more used to that formatIt is true that it will be necessary to manage it well, especially the rear tire, the medium, which needs two or three laps to warm up and be efficient. But that applies to everyone. » he continued.

 

 

Tires will be a major question mark this weekend given the sweltering heat forecast for MotoGP riders. Raul Fernandez explains why this is difficult. « The track was tricky, especially with this type of tire, which we rarely use in this heat. The problem was that the tires were getting extremely hot, especially the right one, and in long corners like the 3-4 or 10-11, when they overheat, it's easy to slide. We found it a little easier to manage the situation thanks to our improved stability, but we need to remain cautious, especially for Sunday's race. » he concluded.

Do you see Raul Fernandez winning a second time in 2026 in Assen? Tell us in the comments!

Practice results at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix:

 

 

Classification credit: MotoGP.com

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport