Raul Fernandez’s recent wins and second-place finishes in two of the last four Grands Prix of the 2025 MotoGP season came as a major surprise to Aprilia. Now in his fourth year in the premier class and his third with the Trackhouse team (formerly RNF), Fernandez’s best prior result was sixth place at the 2023 Valencia Grand Prix.
Midway through the 2025 season, Fernandez began showing improvement, finishing in the top 10 in six of the seven races before the summer break. After the break, he experienced a dip in form between Hungary and San Marino, failing to make the top ten, but soon claimed his first sprint podium in Indonesia. Two weeks later at the Australian Sprint, he finished second, went on to win the Grand Prix the next day, and ended the season with another podium finish at Valencia.
Aprilia Racing’s technical director, Fabiano Sterracchini, admitted that Fernandez’s late-season performance was unexpected. He highlighted Fernandez’s talent but noted the challenges riders face in managing the complex aspects of MotoGP racing, such as engine braking, traction control, and tire management. Sterracchini shared that while he anticipated Fernandez’s speed, he did not expect him to manage races so effectively, describing the rider as a valuable asset and welcoming this impressive surprise.
For Aprilia overall, Fernandez’s pace coupled with teammate Marco Bezzecchi’s strong second-half season, which included wins in Portugal and Valencia, ensured the team’s front-running presence even without Jorge Martin. Bezzecchi noted after the Valencia test that the strong competition between him and Fernandez was a testament to the team’s effective work with the engineers. He acknowledged Fernandez’s speed as a positive sight, joking that their close racing was more stressful for the engineers than the riders themselves.
Fan Take: Raul Fernandez’s breakthrough performances signal a thrilling new chapter for Aprilia and MotoGP fans alike, highlighting the rise of fresh talent capable of challenging established stars. This could spark closer competition and more exciting races ahead, elevating the sport’s intensity and appeal moving forward.
