Raul Fernandez becomes sixth rider ruled out of Australian Grand Prix

Previous Australian Grand Prix winner Raul Fernandez has become the latest regular MotoGP rider ruled out of Sunday's race at Phillip Island, bringing the total number of absentees to six.

Fernandez joins a growing casualty list that includes Fermin Aldeguer (Gresini Ducati), Joan Mir (Honda), Luca Marini (Honda), Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pramac Yamaha), and Jorge Martin (Aprilia). Aldeguer, Mir, and Razgatlioglu were already sidelined through injury and health problems, Marini was forced to withdraw after just two practice laps due to illness, and Martin was injured during Saturday's Sprint.

Fernandez continues to battle the lingering effects of a crash at Mandalika, where he fractured the index finger on his right hand at the start of the Sprint. The injury forced him to alter his braking technique, but his physical condition proved too prohibitive to finish Saturday's Sprint in Australia.

Trackhouse officially announced that the Spaniard's race weekend at Phillip Island is over. His participation in the upcoming round at Sepang—a circuit that places immense demands on braking—is also in serious doubt.

The Spanish rider will undergo further medical checks at Sepang on Thursday to determine whether he will be cleared to compete.

Fernandez's withdrawal shrinks Sunday's starting grid to just 18 bikes, as only two of the sidelined riders have stand-ins. Iker Lecuona replaces Aldeguer at Gresini, while Augusto Fernandez steps in for Razgatlioglu at Pramac Yamaha.

The factory Honda squad has been left in the most dire situation, fielding no entries for the race. With test riders Taka Nakagami and Aleix Espargaro also out injured, the team was unable to arrange a replacement for Mir, while Marini's subsequent withdrawal leaves the Japanese manufacturer's garage completely empty.