At the Indonesian Grand Prix practice, Raul Fernandez of Aprilia secured the top spot, out‑pacing teammate Marco Bezzecchi and factory rider Jorge Martin by a half‑second, and keeping the first three places on the grid clear of rivals.
April 2024 Indonesian Grand Prix practice sets the strategic picture
Only Fernandez’s fellow Aprilias could approach the Spaniard’s lap time, confirming the team’s strength on the high‑speed sectors of Mandalika, particularly the second sector where the bikes’ handling shows its best. Marc Marquez finished fifth, almost a full tenth of a second behind Fernandez’s time. The gap was bigger than many expected, but Fernandez admitted the track suits his setup better than most.
Fernandez stays positive ahead of the race weekend
Choosing the medium rear tyre for Sunday’s race gave Fernandez an unsettling confidence. “I was not faster with the soft, but the medium felt more comfortable.” He avoided complaining about the lap‑time win and described the moment as the “most happy thing on the day.” With the title points no longer a pressure for the factory team, he said the riders could simply try to enjoy the contact and performance each lap.
Mandalika race‑day developments and team morale
Bezzecchi welcomed the Friday result but reminded that the focus should remain on achieving Q2 qualifying. “That’s where our real race effort lies, not the Friday lap.” He saw the team’s collective enthusiasm as a critical asset for the following days. ai Ogura, however, could not advance to Q2 after a broken little finger in Free Practice 1, missing the chance to secure a top‑ten pace.
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