Aprilia boss Massimo Rivola criticises 243-point rider who couldn’t make a ‘proper’ overtake in Indonesia

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Aprilia boss Massimo Rivola has voiced his frustrations with one MotoGP rider after they failed to secure a maiden podium at the Grand Prix of Indonesia this past weekend.

It was a weekend to forget for the Italian constructor, who saw their lone representative of the factory team, Marco Bezzecchi, crash out on the opening lap of the Grand Prix after taking pole position and a Sprint race win on Saturday.

Bezzecchi caught the back wheel of Marc Marquez through turn seven, sending both riders into the gravel and out of the race.

The championship leader looks to be sidelined for a number of races after breaking his collarbone in the incident.

However, it was Trackhouse rider Raul Fernandez who caught the wrath of Rivola on the streets of the Mandalika International Circuit.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Raul Fernandez from net worth to career stats

Massimo Rivola slammed Raul Fernandez for his inability to make a ‘proper manoeuvre’ in Mandalika

After qualifying third on Saturday morning, Fernandez secured his first top-three finish of his MotoGP career in the Indonesia Grand Prix Sprint race as he finished third behind Bezzecchi and Fermin Aldeguer in a strong showing from the Madrid native.

However, he failed to replicate the result in the Grand Prix, falling to sixth at the chequered flag from his first front row start in the premier class. Aprilia boss Rivola wasn’t impressed, and his comments to the media afterwards were evidence of his displeasure.

“If he had held his ground at the front, together with Fermin, he would have been able to ride with him. He couldn’t initiate a proper manoeuvre,” Rivola told journalists, via Speedweek.

“When he tried, he couldn’t pull it off cleanly. He did, in fact, make contact with Luca and ran wide at Turn 10. He may have lacked a bit of speed in some sections. But the Aprilia is usually fast enough.

“Sixth place is a good result, but given the performance he could have shown, a podium finish would have been possible, considering the really good pace in practice.”

The 24-year-old has failed to make his mark on the premier class after moving up from Moto2 with KTM in 2022. From 75 entries, his best finish to date came at the 2023 Grand Prix of Valencia, where he finished fifth.

READ MORE: Fermin Aldeguer takes maiden MotoGP win as Marc Marquez suffers nasty crash at the Indonesian Grand Prix

Raul Fernandez has been told that he doesn’t deserve another year in MotoGP

Fernandez has been under pressure to perform at Trackhouse since failing to live up to the expectations set for him during pre-season.

Whilst stating that there were ‘no dates or ultimatums’, team boss Davide Brivio was clear that a change of results is needed.

The Spaniard has been under close scrutiny of Aprilia bosses during the current campaign. Fernandez was quoted after the Spanish Grand Prix, admitting that he knows ‘nothing’ about the current bike that he is riding.

Despite the pressure, Fernandez is currently enjoying his best season in the premier class to date as he sits in 12th place in the riders’ standings with 112 points to his name.

The pressure isn’t coming from inside the team either, with Neil Hodgson questioning whether Fernandez deserves another season in MotoGP after another lacklustre year in the category.

The Trackhouse rider is currently contracted to the team until the end of 2026, where a decision over his future in the sport is likely to be made.