Raul Fernandez says he channelled “his anger” over a track limits penalty in qualifying to claim his first MotoGP sprint win of 2026 at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Fernandez set the fastest time in Saturday morning’s qualifying session and was seen celebrating his provisional pole position with two minutes remaining on the clock.

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However, the Trackhouse rider soon lost his best time due to a track limits infringement, with replays showing the rear tyre of his Aprilia just gently crossing the white line as he accelerated out of the final corner.

The sanction left him fourth and behind the remaining Aprilias on the grid, but he bounced back strongly in the sprint, passing polesitter Jorge Martin into the final chicane on lap 3.

Speaking after the podium ceremony, Fernandez admitted that he was frustrated by the rule regarding track limits in qualifying, which he felt is making MotoGP “boring”.

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“This morning, I was quite angry after what happened in quali,” he said. “I think they are making our sport very boring sometimes. I don’t really agree [with the penalty].

“If I make a mistake, I accept the consequences.

“Apart from that I used this bad energy or this moment where I was quite angry to put all together in the sprint.

“I am very happy because we are working so well. I am really happy with the work that we are doing. It’s really important for the team and for me to be in this position. It’s the first time we made 1-2.”

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Raul Fernandez, Trackhouse Racing

Fernandez’s second sprint win in four weekends comes at an important time of the season, as he negotiates a new contract with Trackhouse.

While there were initially some doubts about his future at the American team, his recent performances have boosted his chances of securing another contract for 2027 and beyond.

Asked how this result can impact his future, the Spaniard said: “For sure, it’s important. But the things that don’t depend on myself, I am not really thinking about those.

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“I am really working on myself, trying to do my best. And if tomorrow I have another opportunity, I will try.

“Since two or three races, we are talking with Trackhouse. We had some nice talks. When we made our first match in ‘24, the team was almost finishing in the last positions and I was almost in the last positions , so I think we did a really good job together.

“I think it is time to make everything [work] in that way to be continued in the future. But it is something that doesn’t depend on me. I have the people around me who are working on that.”

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Read Also:

MotoGP Dutch GP: Raul Fernandez leads Trackhouse Aprilia 1-2 in sprint

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Ireland got the better of India by 34 runs at Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast on Friday, June 26 in the first T20I of the two-match series. With the historic win, the Irish side registered their first ever triumph over India in international cricket.

Bowling first after winning the toss in the first T20I, India conceded 182 runs while picking up nine wickets. Captain Lorcan Tucker led from the front with 50 off 36 balls, while Gareth Delany chipped in with a crucial 49 off 32 balls. For India, Harshit Rana claimed three wickets, while Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel chipped in with two scalps each.

In the chase, Abhishek Sharma (49 off 20) got the Men in Blue off to a brisk start, hitting seven fours and two sixes. However, the rest of the batting line-up failed as India fell way short of the target in the end. In the wake of India’s shock loss on Friday in Belfast, we look at three reasons why the Men in Blue are in serious danger of losing the T20I series 2-0.

#1 India’s T20I batting has time and again been exposed in bowling-friendly conditions

Team India may have won the last two T20 World Cups, but it is pretty clear that their batters struggle when they have to play on bowling-friendly surfaces once in a while in T20I cricket. India’s only loss in the 2026 T20 World Cup came in the Super 8 clash against South Africa in Ahmedabad. The Proteas bowlers troubled India with back-of-length and off-pace deliveries.

Just like the wicket in Ahmedabad, the surface in Belfast is also not a batting paradise. There is enough help in it for pacers and spin bowlers. The bounce is somewhat two-paced and India’s batters clearly found it difficult to hit boundaries. Most of the aerial strokes went straight into the hands of Ireland’s fielders.

The manner in which India’s batters kept perishing one after the other should be a matter of concern for the team management. It would be fair to say that there was a hint of arrogance as well in the manner in which they about their chase, not showing much respect for the conditions. Some of the strokes were uncalled for, with batters literally gifting their wickets away instead of grinding it out.

#2 Short turnaround time between two T20Is

Another major reason why Ireland would fancy their chances of a 2-0 victory over India is the short turnaround time between the two T20Is. The first match was played on Friday, while the second game will be held on Sunday. The Men in Blue batters failed to get a hang of the conditions in the first T20Is, and there is not much they can do now other than preparing mentally for the challenge on Sunday.

The likes of skipper Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan need to take a closer look at the mode of their dismissals in the first T20I. Yes, it is absolutely true that India have tasted amazing success by adapting an ultra-aggressive approach with the willow in T20Is. However, at times, the horses for courses approach also needs to be looked at. The pitch in Belfast definitely warrants a change in strategy.

#3 Ireland’s bowling looks better suited to conditions in Belfast

Looking at the bowling performance of the two teams in the first T20I in Belfast, it definitely appears as if Ireland’s bowlers are better suited to exploit the conditions on offer. Left-arm pacer Jai Moondra and right-arm pacer Matthew Hollard were both on debut. However, the two bowlers exploited the conditions brilliantly to put India on the backfoot in the first T20I, combining to pick up five big wickets.

Matthew Humphreys also overcame a poor start to finish with a three-fer. In contrast, India’s bowlers struggled to find efficiency and consistency. Harshit Rana stood out with 3-24, while Arshdeep Singh (2-28) also impressed. However, Prasidh Krishna looked totally out of sync, conceding 57 runs in four wicketless overs. Even Axar Patel went for a few even though he claimed two wickets.

It is important to note that India are without the services of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Hardik Pandya for the Ireland and England T20Is. So, there is some inexperience in the Indian bowling that Ireland’s batters can expose. Unless India’s bowlers can quickly find the right lines and lengths to bowl on Sunday, they could find themselves under the pump yet again in Belfast.