Yamaha Factory Racing Team and Augusto Fernández Use Hot Assen Sprint to Gather Valuable Race Data
The Yamaha Factory Racing Team continued their testing programme on the Grand Prix of the Netherlands Saturday. Wild-card entry Augusto Fernández entered a long battle in the 13-lap Sprint and secured P18.
TT Circuit Assen (the Netherlands), 27th June 2026
The Yamaha Factory Racing Team used the Grand Prix of the Netherlands Saturday to collect further race-weekend data. Augusto Fernández battled with a rival over the 13-lap Sprint and concluded it in P18.
Fernández had qualified in P20 and held the position on the opening lap. The Yamaha test rider was overtaken by Cal Crutchlow on lap 3 and spent the majority of the Sprint closely following him. The number-47 rider had set out to gather data in race conditions this weekend, and the battle between him and Crutchlow aligned perfectly with his objectives. He made his move on lap 12. Due to a crash by a rival on that same lap, Fernández took the chequered flag in P18, 29.001s from the winner.
The Yamaha Factory Racing Team will be back in action tomorrow for Warm Up, held from 09:40-09:50 (GMT+2), and the 26-lap Race, which starts at 14:00.
"In general, everyone is struggling in this heat, but I am also struggling more than expected at this track that I like. I'm struggling to get closer to the other Yamahas. In quali I managed to do a so-so lap, but I'm not consistent.
"In testing, we don't work a lot on setting, so when I'm here, racing, I'm trying to personalise the bike to my riding to go faster and faster and faster, because that's what race weekends are like.
"Let's see if tomorrow we can make a step. The target is to be closer to the next Yamaha for me."
Yamaha Factory Racing Rider
"In testing, we don't work a lot on setting, so when I'm here, racing, I'm trying to personalise the bike to my riding to go faster and faster and faster, because that's what race weekends are like.
"Let's see if tomorrow we can make a step. The target is to be closer to the next Yamaha for me."