Podium for Raul Fernandez at the Thailand Grand Prix
The 2026 MotoGP championship began under the intense heat of Buriram, Thailand. On this fast and demanding circuit, the riders kicked off a new season that promises to be particularly competitive.
For the riders SHARK, this first meeting offers a mix of solid performances, twists, and first indications of the strengths present.
At the end of the weekend, Raul Fernandez emerged as one of the strong men of this opener by stepping onto the podium, while Johann Zarco scored his first points with Honda.
Raul Fernandez starts his season with a podium
At the end of the winter tests, few observers imagined Raul Fernandez playing a leading role from the start of the season.
The rider Spanish of the team Trackhouse Racing had encountered several difficulties during the tests, notably in exploiting new tires during timed attempts.
“During the tests, we encountered some problems getting the bike to work in time attack mode. I had trouble exploiting the new tires.”
In a MotoGP where grid position has become crucial, this weakness could weigh heavily.
But from the race weekend, things change.
The team manages to find technical solutions and Fernandez delivers a solid performance in qualifying. Despite going through Q1, he manages to secure a front row position, a turning point in his weekend.
A solid performance from the Sprint
During the Saturday Sprint race, Raul Fernandez immediately confirms his potential.
As soon as the lights go out, he positions himself at the front and fights for the podium against particularly strong competition.
He finally crosses the finish line in third position, behind Pedro Acosta and Marc Marquez.
A first strong signal.
This performance is all the more remarkable as it is achieved by the satellite team Trackhouse, further highlighting the significance of this result against official teams. It also allows the Aprilia of the Trackhouse team to position itself as the first bike of the brand at the finish, confirming the progress made during the winter.
A controlled race despite the pain
On Sunday morning, the warm-up is nevertheless reserved with a little worry.
Raul Fernandez complains of shoulder pain.
Despite this, the Spaniard starts with determination and delivers a particularly solid performance.
Long installed in second position behind Marco Bezzecchi, he must gradually manage the wear of his rear tire in the final laps.
The pressure is strong behind him, but Fernandez holds on.
« The last six tours have been very difficult but I hung on to reach this podium. »
He finally crossed the finish line third, thus securing his first podium of the season.
A result that also confirms the positive love dynamic at the end of last season.
« I confirm what I showed last year with my victory in Australia and my second place in Valencia. »
An Aprilia in progress
Beyond the individual performance, this weekend also highlights the evolution of the bike.
Four Aprilias finish in the top five, a strong signal for the season.
For Fernandez, this confirms that the work done by the Italian brand during the winter is paying off.
« Four Aprilias in the top five, this shows that the bike has really progressed. »
Johann Zarco opens his account with Honda
For his part, Johann Zarco also leaves Thailand with an encouraging result. The rider of the team LCR Honda finishes eleventh and scores his first points of the season.
However, his race was marked by several challenges, including tire wear management and the demanding characteristics of the Honda RC213V.
« I managed the race as best as possible. »
In the final laps, the performance of the rear tire starts to decline. Despite this, Zarco manages to maintain his pace and also take advantage of the difficulties encountered by some competitors.
« In the end, it held up better than Mir, who had to retire, or even Marc . »
Finding the balance with the Honda
If the Honda seems to have improved, Johann Zarco acknowledges that he still lacks the ideal setup to exploit the full potential of the machine.
"If we rider it properly, this bike can perform well. But I still can't reach that area."
The Frenchman emphasizes that the key lies in working with his team.
The four riders Honda each have a different style and size, making the development of the bike particularly complex.
"Everything depends on details and patience."
For Zarco, the season will primarily be about continuous progress.
" " The motivation is there, and physically I feel good. What will make the difference is my ability to control my emotions so as not to lose patience."
Moto2 and Moto3: a busy weekend
The Thailand Grand Prix was also marked by several incidents in the other categories.
In Moto2, the race was interrupted twice after crashes requiring emergency intervention.
The event was finally reduced to seven laps , which means that only half of the points were awarded.
Tony Arbolino, the only rider SHARK to finish, ends thirteenth and leaves with 1.5 points.
In Moto3, Scott Ogden finished 12th, while Eddie O'Shea scored the point for 15th place, just ahead of rookie Leo Rammerstorfer.
The moment of the weekend
The standout image of this Grand Prix will undoubtedly be the Saturday Sprint , when Raul Fernandez settled at the forefront from the first laps.
A performance that immediately placed the rider Spaniard among the contenders for the Sunday podium.
A key moment that perfectly symbolizes the ambition of the Trackhouse team for this season.
Next step: the return of the MotoGP in Brazil
The championship will now continue in Brazil, for a highly anticipated Grand Prix.
The MotoGP will make its return there after 22 years of absence, on the circuitAyrton Senna of Goiânia.
This historic track had already hosted the Grand Prix of1987, 1988, and 1989, before the championship then moved to São Paulo and then to Rio.
With this return to Goiânia, the Ayrton Senna circuit becomes the33rd different circuit to host a round of the MotoGP in the modern era of the Grand Prix.
This return also marks a key moment for SHARK, with the spotlight on our Brazilian ambassador Eric Granado, an emblematic figure of SBK and helmet SKWAL CUP Replica Granado, directly inspired by his heritage and influence in the racing world. A strong nod to history, between a return to roots and local anchoring, pending a more comprehensive focus in our next edition.
It should also be noted that the first race of the Bagger World Cup will be held in Austin from March 27 to 29, with Eric Granado on track. We will also have a second rider engaged in this category: Filippo Rovelli, an Italian rider.
The helmet signature 2026 of Johann Zarco
For the MotoGP 2026 season, Johann Zarco adopts a new helmet decoration , specially developed to accompany his new year in the championship. This unique design is distinguished by a strong visual identity, blending performance and style.
The helmet highlights the number #5 of the rider, clearly visible, which has become an emblematic element for Zarco's fans. The design also integrates blue carbon elements, which bring a technical and premium touch to the helmet.
The color palette aligns with current trends in the motorcycle world, notably with touches of purple, a color increasingly present in racing and lifestyle environments.
Designed to be immediately recognizable on track and off, this new design reflects the spirit of Johann Zarco: a balance between pure performance and personal identity .
This helmet Replica 2026 is also in line with the continuity of the dynamic of the rider French, driven by its strong performances during the 2025 season, where he regularly fought at the front and for the podiums.
Raúl Fernández: a strong visual signature
On this occasion, Raúl Fernández also met the honor of his helmet Signature, a true extension of his on-track identity.
True to his graphic universe, he chose to retain the design launched in 2025, already widely adopted and distributed internationally. A strong desire: to allow his fans, everywhere in the world, to continue wearing his helmet in 2026, in a logic of continuity and immediate recognition.
A stance that strengthens the link between the rider and its community, while establishing this helmet as a lasting reference in the range.
SHARK and the FIM2 standard: safety at the highest level
Alongside sporting performance, the safety of riders remains a major priority in the championship.
The International Motorcycling Federation recently introduced the FIM FRHPhe-02 standard, more demanding than classic homologations.
The helmets must now undergo several additional tests:
- impacts on oblique anvils
- measurement of rotational forces
- quick extraction of cheek pads
- skull fracture criterion test (SFC)
These tests aim to reproduce the extreme conditions of falls in competition.
SHARK is among the first brands to meet these requirements with its helmets racing, designed to offer the highest level of protection to riders engaged at the highest level.
