Fernandez believes Martin was at fault<\/a>, while the latter thought the opposite.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n
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![\"Raul](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/gng_1316509_hires.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Raul Fernandez, Jorge Martin clash, 2026 Catalan MotoGP.<\/p>\n
\u00a9\u00a0Gold and Goose<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth could have done a better job\u201d<\/p>\n
Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola told the official MotoGP website on Sunday: \u201cWell, overall I would say that these are the kinds of things we don\u2019t want to see.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s true that there\u2019s, let\u2019s say, a combination of things that could be avoided, from both maybe.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would say more from Raul\u2019s [side], but both could have done a better job.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that between Aprilias, we should take a bit more care, especially on the first lap, especially with different tyres, and especially when you are P2 and P3. A bad day from that point of view.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Trackhouse team boss Davide Brivio somewhat echoed Rivola\u2019s comments that both parties were to blame, though feels Fernandez was well within his rights to attempt an overtake.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has been a race accident,\u201d Brivio began.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, maybe between Aprilia riders, maybe we should talk in the future to be more careful probably.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I think from Raul\u2019s [side], he tried to overtake and – I wouldn\u2019t say 50\/50 – but I can\u2019t say it\u2019s Raul\u2019s responsibility on that fully or Martin.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s say, there was a space, if you watch the images. We watched the images, and there was a space, and Raul tried to overtake, as is legitimate to try.<\/p>\n
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\u201cAnd then I think Martin closed the line. I think it could maybe have been avoidable. But they both wanted to keep the position, or gain a position.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnyway, it\u2019s happened. We will look again, together, and this also is an opportunity to hopefully talk altogether and avoid this kind of thing in the future, especially in a situation when we are with Aprilia [on track].\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Raul](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/gng_1316261_hires_1600x900.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Raul Fernandez, Jorge Martin clash, 2026 Catalan MotoGP.<\/p>\n
\u00a9\u00a0Gold and Goose<\/p>\n
Should Aprilia now consider new rules of engagement?<\/p>\n
The incident proved costly for Martin, who registered a double non-score for the weekend, with team-mate Marco Bezzecchi able to extend his points lead to 15 at the end of a difficult event for the Italian.<\/p>\n
With Aprilia clearly fielding the best package on the grid right now, it is likely facing an intra-team title battle between Bezzecchi and Martin.<\/p>\n
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But both Trackhouse riders have shown podium-capable form already this year, which is an added complication to how Aprilia manages races.<\/p>\n
Aprilia also faces the situation where two of its stable – Martin and Ai Ogura – are leaving at the end of the year, while Fernandez is fighting for his future, something made all the more complicated by Brivio\u2019s announcement that he will depart Trackhouse at the end of 2026.<\/p>\n
For now, there have been no public mentions of factory orders.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs long as the rules are clear, the riders know very well when they can take a risk and when they cannot,\u201d Rivola noted.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think there was a bit of risk taken unnecessarily. We lost points everywhere. Trackhouse lost points. So, the outcome is very clear and we should all learn very easily and quickly from this lesson.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Immediately after the incident, Rivola approached Brivio. But both played down this interaction.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just said that we should have avoided that kind of thing,\u201d Rivola explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, maybe when we are all a bit more calm, maybe we will have a meeting together with all the four riders and remind to everyone that we have just one goal.<\/p>\n
Brivio added: \u201cOf course, in that moment, it had just happened by a few seconds and you have adrenaline and everything.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut there\u2019s no problem. We watched the images together with Massimo and there\u2019s no problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
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