Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Edition

Global Global

Raul Fernandez claims podium pace at MotoGP Austrian GP

The Trackhouse rider expects more on Sunday after a strong sprint was spoiled by a ride-height device failure

Raul Fernandez, Trackhouse Racing

Raul Fernandez, Trackhouse Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Despite one of his strongest race showings of the season, Raul Fernandez cut a surprisingly disappointed figure after the sprint at the Red Bull Ring on Saturday.

The Trackhouse Aprilia rider believed he had the pace to challenge for a top-three position, but was forced to retire from sixth place when his ride-height device stuck in place.

Read Also:

Fernandez’s steadily improving form has hit a new level since the last race in the Czech Republic, where he qualified sixth and finished the grand prix fifth.

Despite lining up only ninth for the sprint at Spielberg, the Spaniard made a strong start and ran fifth before being demoted one spot by KTM’s Brad Binder. Yet he was not satisfied despite another reminder of the clear strides taken since a dire start to the season.

“It's difficult when you start the season so badly and race by race you feel [more] comfortable and you feel that you are improving a lot… to see that you are fifth in the sprint and you have some problems is not really nice.

Raul Fernandez, Trackhouse Racing

Raul Fernandez, Trackhouse Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images

“We knew before starting the sprint that we had the pace to fight for the podium. So [that] was the target. I made a really good start, and when I saw that the start was good, I tried to push more, to try to close the gap with [factory Aprilia rider] Marco Bezzecchi because I think in this race the pace was quite… lap by lap I feel that the pace was almost the same.”

Fernandez’s best race lap was just over a tenth slower than that of Bezzecchi. He was the sixth-fastest rider by that metric.

Despite Saturday’s disappointment, Fernandez is looking ahead to a Sunday on which he will race a rear tyre he prefers over the soft compound used in the sprint.

“I will take the positives – the potential that we have and the race pace that we have for tomorrow,” he said. “It will be interesting to see if it’s dry because I think I feel even more comfortable with the medium rear. I am not really happy but I think we can take really good positives for tomorrow.”

Fernandez also confirmed that it was a ride-height device issue that began to compromise his race from the fifth lap, shortly after which Binder relieved him of fifth place. The issue ultimately led to his lap-nine retirement after the device stuck for good.

Read Also:

Photos from Austrian GP - Race

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Raul Fernandez, Trackhouse Racing

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Paddock

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Miguel Oliveira, Pramac Racing

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

The Factory Yamaha Racing team prepare their flag to flag strategy during the MotoGP of Austria.

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Johann Zarco, Team LCR Honda

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Riders take the start of the Austrian MotoGP Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring race track in Spielberg, Austria, on August 17, 2025 (Photo by Jure Makovec / AFP) (Photo by JURE MAKOVEC/AFP via Getty Images)

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Johann Zarco, Team LCR Honda, Luca Marini, Honda HRC

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Pedro Acosta, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Raul Fernandez, Trackhouse Racing

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Ai Ogura, Trackhouse Racing

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Fermin Aldeguer, Gresini Racing

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Fermin Aldeguer, Gresini Racing, Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Fermin Aldeguer, Gresini Racing

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Fermin Aldeguer, Gresini Racing, Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing, Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Fermin Aldeguer, Gresini Racing, Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing, Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

Fermin Aldeguer, Gresini Racing, Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing, Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Austrian GP - Sunday, in photos

MotoGP
49
In this article
Be the first to know and subscribe for real-time news email updates on these topics
Previous article Injured Maverick Vinales to miss MotoGP Hungarian GP – and maybe more
Next article Marco Bezzecchi not shocked by underwhelming sprint, still targets Austrian GP win

Top Comments

Recommended for you

Denny Hamlin fires back after Mamba Smith's Daytona prank in viral X social media exchange

Denny Hamlin fires back after Mamba Smith's Daytona prank in viral X social media exchange

NASCAR Cup
Daytona II
Denny Hamlin fires back after Mamba Smith's Daytona prank in viral X social media exchange
Ryan Blaney responds to Alex Bowman's promise of "seven million beers" with counter-offer

Ryan Blaney responds to Alex Bowman's promise of "seven million beers" with counter-offer

NASCAR Cup
Daytona II
Ryan Blaney responds to Alex Bowman's promise of "seven million beers" with counter-offer
Leigh Diffey confronts criticism after Daytona regular season finale

Leigh Diffey confronts criticism after Daytona regular season finale

NASCAR Cup
Daytona II
Leigh Diffey confronts criticism after Daytona regular season finale
Alexander Rossi thrilled for ECR’s Milwaukee success after “missed opportunities”

Alexander Rossi thrilled for ECR’s Milwaukee success after “missed opportunities”

IndyCar
Milwaukee
Alexander Rossi thrilled for ECR’s Milwaukee success after “missed opportunities”
Denny Hamlin says Bubba Wallace at fault for pileup crash: "Not clear"

Denny Hamlin says Bubba Wallace at fault for pileup crash: "Not clear"

NASCAR Cup
Daytona II
Denny Hamlin says Bubba Wallace at fault for pileup crash: "Not clear"
Christian Rasmussen steals maiden IndyCar win after late weather caution

Christian Rasmussen steals maiden IndyCar win after late weather caution

IndyCar
Milwaukee
Christian Rasmussen steals maiden IndyCar win after late weather caution
Winners and losers from an unbelievable NASCAR Cup finish at Daytona

Winners and losers from an unbelievable NASCAR Cup finish at Daytona

NASCAR Cup
Daytona II
Winners and losers from an unbelievable NASCAR Cup finish at Daytona
Pedro Acosta owns up to qualifying “mess”, admits need to “cool down”

Pedro Acosta owns up to qualifying “mess”, admits need to “cool down”

MotoGP
Hungarian GP
Pedro Acosta owns up to qualifying “mess”, admits need to “cool down”

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Edition

Global Global
Filters