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He had returned home early from the Sepang tests because he fractured the fifth metacarpal of his left hand and two toes of his left foot. But Raul Fernandez wanted to try anyway. So, he tackled the two days of general tests at the Buriram circuit by finishing with comforting indications that bode well for the start of the season. Eighth at the end of the last available afternoon, the Trackhouse Racing rider said he wass satisfied.
"On Thursday, I felt a lot of pain in the fractured parts, but I'm happy because I prepared well during the winter and, as a result, my muscles responded properly. Like I've repeated several times, it's good to be here. Let's say I was lucky. But it was important to be there to get some laps and understand the kind of work that lies ahead, also because there were three additions to the team, and we still have to learn each other's methodologies. Starting the collaboration from the first race would've been complicated," the rider from Spain.
Even if he's not in excellent physical condition, he partially maintained the program that was planned and with decent results. "We tested several things and, especially on the electronics, we took at least two or three steps forward. Overall, I tried to understand the bike better, but this prevented me from doing sprint race or GP simulations, such as attempting a time attack. As a matter of fact, from morning to afternoon, I improved by one second, but that wasn't the goal. Everything worked well, and I was happy to set a good time, but what matters, in my opinion, is that I kept a very good pace," he admitted.
A few more days wouldn't have helped the 24-year-old. "I already feel ready, as does the set-up. Clearly, the question is what my condition will be when we come back here, especially as far as my leg is concerned, since I'm not really worried about my hand. The hope is to be at ninety-five percent or one hundred percent. That said, as a team, and as a bike, we're prepared," he continued in his analysis before dwelling on his teammate, Ai Ogura, who's making his MotoGP debut. "Coincidentally, when I was going through my last lap, we did three corners together. I feel like he's doing well. He could be the surprise of the year."
Finally, his plan for approaching the first weekend of the championship. "I'll go back home and try to rest and recover my foot as best I can. The doctors have deemed the surgery unnecessary, so it's going to take more time."
