Second Aprilia rider out of Australia MotoGP after Jorge Martin crash

Trackhouse Aprilia MotoGP rider Raul Fernandez’s Australian Grand Prix has come to an end due to ongoing issues with a hand injury he suffered at the Indonesian Grand Prix.

The Spanish rider won the Australian Grand Prix last year, marking his first victory in the premier class.

Strong through practice, Fernandez was sixth in qualifying, but would retire from the sprint with four laps to go.

Fernandez fractured two fingers in a collision with Aprilia stablemate Marco Bezzecchi at the start of the Indonesia sprint two weeks ago, with the injury forcing him to retire from today’s race at Phillip Island.

Trackhouse initially reported that Fernandez was undergoing checks, but has now confirmed he will miss Sunday's Phillip Island race and will travel to Malaysia for further evaluation ahead of the Sepang round next weekend. 

"Suffering the effects of his crash in Indonesia, in which he fractured his right index finger – his primary brake control finger - SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team rider No.25 Raul Fernandez was forced to retire from the 13-lap Sprint race at Phillip Island unable to continue on his Aprilia RS-GP26 bike. 

"The demanding nature of the Australian track proved to be physically more stressful than the Indonesia Mandalika Circuit and the level of discomfort too great to continue beyond lap nine.

"After the race, Fernandez went straight to a medical assessment with the MotoGP Medical Director and it was found that while the finger fracture is stable, there is inflammation of the soft tissue around the fracture. 

"He has now been declared unfit to take part in the Grand Prix of Australia, on Sunday and will travel to Malaysia for a further medical assessment, on Thursday, to determine if he is able to ride at Sepang.

"In the meantime, rehabilitation treatment will begin to try and reduce the inflammation around his index finger fracture."

Fernandez gritted his teeth through the injury at the Mandalika track two weeks ago to convert pole to a second-place finish.

He also managed to lead the grand prix for 18 laps, before Bezzecchi overtook him and went on to score his first win since the Italian Grand Prix at the end of May.

Fernandez’s injury struggles come as erstwhile championship leader Jorge Martin suffered a high-speed crash at Turn 8 during Saturday’s Phillip Island sprint.

The Aprilia rider was battling hard with Marc Marquez for victory and greater control in the championship standings when he fell out of second on lap eight of 13.

He had to be stretchered away by the marshals and will sit out the Australian GP due to a wrist fracture, in what is a devastating blow to his world title hopes.

Marquez went on to win the sprint, giving him a 10-point lead in the standings heading into Sunday’s grand prix.

No condition update has been given for Martin at the time of publishing.