Raul Fernandez blasts Marco Bezzecchi after Mandalika sprint crash
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 10, 2026
Fernandez crash
Fernandez said Bezzecchi pushed him off the kerb under braking and called the Italian “unprofessional” after their MotoGP sprint crash at Mandalika. He said Bezzecchi “absolutely clattered” him in the first braking zone on the opening lap of the Indonesian Grand Prix sprint, a clash that sent both riders into the gravel and immediately changed the race for the pair. The incident cut short what had already been a strong day for Fernandez, who had earned his maiden MotoGP pole earlier and lined up at the front for the sprint. He ended up on the ground after the opening-corner fight with Bezzecchi. Fernandez made clear afterward that he believed the move was avoidable and that the contact came after an agreement between the two Aprilia riders to stay out of each other’s way because both had strong pace.
Bezzecchi contact
Fernandez said the crash did more than end his own sprint. It also opened the door for other riders to move through, with two Ducatis able to pass while he and Bezzecchi were in the gravel. That detail added to Fernandez’s frustration. The Spaniard said the setup for the sprint had been clear between them before the lights went out. Both riders had pace, and the plan was to avoid getting in each other’s way. Fernandez said the contact ran against that understanding and left him paying the price at the start of the sprint. His comments pointed to more than a simple racing error. He framed the move as a break in discipline at the start of a race that had looked promising for both Aprilia riders before the opening-lap collision.
FIM stewards
The clash also carried physical consequences for Fernandez. He said he suffered a fractured finger and a swollen hand after the crash, injuries that put his Grand Prix participation in doubt. He was declared fit to ride and planned to try the warm-up before the race, but the damage left his status uncertain. That gave the incident a wider impact than the sprint result alone. Fernandez had started the day with his first MotoGP pole, then saw the sprint unravel in a matter of seconds, and finished it dealing with pain and uncertainty about what came next. The FIM stewards reviewed the contact and ruled it a racing incident, closing the book on the official side of the matter even as Fernandez made his position plain. He had no doubt about how he viewed the crash. The stewards did not penalize either rider, but the sequence left Fernandez frustrated, injured and uncertain about his Grand Prix participation.
