“The mark of a great athlete” - Fernandez impressed Trackhouse during MotoGP contract wait
Trackhouse boss Justin Marks has praised Raul Fernandez for delivering while he was still waiting for clarity over his MotoGP future.
Trackhouse boss Justin Marks has explained how Ai Ogura’s factory Yamaha move left team-mate Raul Fernandez in an uncertain position for 2027.
Ogura’s surprise decision meant Trackhouse “went to work figuring out what our future looked like.”
The rider search was then complicated by news of team director Davide Brivio’s end-of-year departure, to HRC.
Meanwhile, Fernandez was left waiting for clarity over his own future, but delivered under pressure with a Sprint victory at Mugello, ending a five-round podium drought.
Once a new Trackhouse deal was secure, the Spaniard has remained in the best form of his MotoGP career, with a grand prix win, Sprint win and two other Sunday podiums from the past three rounds.
“It shows the maturity and the fact that he is truly becoming a professional athlete,” Marks said of Fernandez’s reaction to the contract uncertainty.
“I think what's great about Raul is that - we didn't expect Ai to make the decision that he made, at the time that he did it.
“So we went to work figuring out what our future looked like on that side of the garage.
“At the same time, Raul was like, ‘hey, where's my contract’, you know?
“And so, he had to be very patient, and there was a period of time where he was uncertain.
“During that period of uncertainty, he performed.
“Then we signed the contract, he has security, he has a multi-year deal, we put our arm around him, and he [again] performed.
“Being able to go out there and do the job, regardless of what's happening in the garage, or in the hospitality, or at home, that's the mark of a great athlete.”
Fernandez is in his fifth MotoGP season, fourth year on an Aprilia and third with Trackhouse.
“Everybody grows at a different pace,” Marks said.
“When he had his Moto2 deal, he was winning, and he came in [to MotoGP], but then it was a couple of years of like, ‘Is he going to figure it out?’
“I think the whole time he was waiting for Trackhouse.”
Fernandez is currently sixth in the world championship, with fellow 2026 grand prix winner Ogura in third.
Although yet to be officially confirmed, Enea Bastianini will follow Fernandez’s earlier move from Tech3 KTM to Aprilia’s satellite team as Ogura's 2027 replacement.
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
