Raul Fernandez took his first MotoGP Sprint Race podium with a third place at the Mandalika International Street Circuit.
For the first time in his MotoGP career, Raul Fernandez featured on a podium after he finished in third place in the Indonesian Sprint Race on Saturday.
The Spaniard started from the front row of the grid, which he converted into a Sprint podium, and finished behind Marco Bezzecchi and Fermin Aldeguer.
"I am very happy, after four difficult years, where we have never been this competitive, I am very happy," Fernandez said after his first MotoGP Sprint podium.
"Sometimes in the Sprint, I forgot how to ride the bike because I was a little bit nervous. Especially in the last lap. The last time I was in this kind of position, I made a mistake.
"This is very important for me, for Aprilia, and I am happy. When Marco [Bezzecchi] overtook me and I saw the gap, I tried to manage [my pace] and kept it in the 30.3's and 30.5's.
"I don't know the reason why we are super competitive here, but I am happy because I have this feeling and this opportunity. Thanks to the team, but especially my family, and my brother, because when you have four difficult years, you think too much about the situation.
"But thanks to him [Adrian Fernandez], I focused on my job, I tried to enjoy the difficult moments, and now I have this podium, so I am very happy."
Whilst other manufacturers have been struggling with the Michelin tyres at the Mandalika Circuit, Aprilia have been excelling this weekend, something that Fernandez is very pleased with.
"I am happy with the result, but I am more happy with my feeling," he explained.
"In Motegi, we were very competitive, but the key is the start; if you have a difference in pace, it makes a difference. You see, today, Marco had an amazing pace, and he came like an animal, but if not, it is difficult to overtake.
"We improved in Qualifying, now you have seen our potential, but we will see for tomorrow. It will be a difficult race in terms of managing the front and rear tyres. It will not be an easy choice for tomorrow, especially with the front tyre."
