Aprilia Factory Team Struggles as Trackhouse Secures 1-2 Finish in Assen Sprint

Trackhouse Racing's Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura secured a stunning 1-2 finish in the Assen sprint, outshining the factory Aprilia team despite their strong practice performances.

The MotoGP sprint race at Assen witnessed an unexpected twist as Trackhouse Racing the satellite team of Aprilia outperformed the factory squad. While Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura claimed the top two spots, Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin from the factory team struggled to keep pace, finishing fourth and fifth respectively.

The factory Aprilia team had shown promising speed throughout the weekend, with Bezzecchi setting the fastest times in all three practice sessions. However, their race performance fell short of expectations. Bezzecchi, who started from the outside of the front row, lost positions early on due to a misjudgment at Turn 9.

Despite recovering to fourth place, he couldn’t close the gap to the leaders. Martin, who started from pole position, also faced challenges, losing ground after being overtaken by Fernandez on lap three.

The Factory Team’s Struggles

Bezzecchi admitted to struggling in the opening laps, attributing his difficulties to a lack of confidence and increased bike movement.

‘I struggled a bit more in the first couple of laps,’ he said. ‘I’ve been struggling a bit after the start and I got overtaken by Raul, who was starting behind me, and also from Diggia, who was also starting behind me.’ Despite improving his pace later in the race, it was too late to challenge for a podium finish.

Martin’s race took a different turn. After a strong start, he lost the lead to Ogura and then to Fernandez. He attributed his performance issues to a lack of rear grip, which worsened as the race progressed. ‘I was really happy after qualifying to be back in pole position after almost two years,’ Martin said. ‘But when the race started, I was feeling good in the first few corners. Then I saw I had no real grip and I was suffering the whole way till the end.’

Trackhouse Racing’s Triumph

Trackhouse Racing’s victory was a testament to the competitiveness of the Aprilia RS-GP bike. Fernandez and Ogura’s 1-2 finish highlighted the satellite team’s ability to extract maximum performance from the bike. This result was a significant achievement for Trackhouse, demonstrating their growing prowess in the MotoGP championship.

The factory Aprilia team, despite their strong practice performances, was unable to match the race pace of their satellite counterparts. The team acknowledged the need to understand the issues that arose during the sprint race and make the necessary adjustments for the main Grand Prix race. ‘We are changing things on the bike and sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad,’ Martin said. ‘Today it wasn’t the right way, so tomorrow we will bounce back.’

Looking Ahead

Despite the disappointing sprint race, both Bezzecchi and Martin remained optimistic. The factory team showed improved pace compared to previous rounds, and Fernandez’s victory proved that the Aprilia package is capable of winning races. The focus now shifts to analyzing the sprint race performance and making the right adjustments for the main Grand Prix race.

The Assen sprint race served as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of MotoGP. While the factory Aprilia team may have expected to dominate, Trackhouse Racing’s performance was a stark contrast. As the championship progresses, teams will need to adapt and innovate to stay ahead in this highly competitive field.