Aprilia teammates collide as accounts differ at Mandalika

A collision between Aprilia teammates Marco Bezzecchi and Raul Fernandez at Turn 1 ended both riders’ races in the Mandalika Sprint on Saturday, as they offered conflicting accounts of who caused the crash. Fernandez said he fractured a finger in the incident and would test it during Sunday warmup before deciding whether he could take part in the Grand Prix. His injury was reported by the rider; no medical confirmation was provided in the accounts. The crash unfolded as four riders approached the first corner close together. Marc Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio were also involved in the compressed group, and Marquez went on to win the Sprint. The two Aprilias went down and retired. Fernandez accused Bezzecchi of squeezing him toward the edge of the track and leaving space for the two Ducatis to pass. He said the move was disrespectful, but added that he did not believe it merited a penalty because he considered it legal. Fernandez also said Aprilia had asked its riders not to impede one another and that he had described his intended first-corner move before the race. Bezzecchi rejected Fernandez’s account of the contact, calling it a racing incident.