A lot has been going on since February, and ten months have already gone since the first time rookie Augusto Fernandez tried the GASGAS RC16 in 2023, at the Sepang Shakedown. The journey since then has not been easy, but it was also highlighted with great moments, including a fourth position at the French Grand Prix back in May. More recently in Buriram at the Thai GP, the GASGAS Tech3 rider qualified directly to Q2, so it is fair to say that today’s Augusto Fernandez is a different man to the one we saw making his debuts in the category earlier this year. Already having track experience confirmed to be a huge help for the number 37 who felt comfortable quickly this morning, as he closed the top 10 of Practice 1, with a best of 2’00.467, less than a second from the fastest lap. The conditions got a bit more difficult in the afternoon with even more humidity, but that did not prevent the rookie to make another step and ride under the 1’58, with a fastest lap in 1’58.678 that placed him in P13 today. If he missed Q2 by just 0.191 seconds, he is confident that he can take a further step tomorrow and why not try qualifying for Q2.

Pol Espargaro was also quick to re-adapt to the Malaysian layout this morning as he finished the first session of the weekend in P9, with a best lap in 2’00.298, and was the first Pierer Mobility bike, an encouraging sign for the Spaniard who has been trying to gain back confidence on his RC16. In the afternoon, the conditions were tougher for the one hour-Practice, and the Spaniard continued to encounter struggles with his front tyre. The confidence was not there in the corners, and it prevented him from doing better lap times. In the end, he rode a lap in 1’58.974, which placed him in P17 today. He will look to improve his feeling when the action resumes on Saturday morning at 10:10 local time (GMT+8), just before the qualifying sessions begin at 10:50. Later on, Pol Espargaro and Augusto Fernandez will line up on the grid for the Tissot Sprint scheduled 15:00 LT, for ten laps.