Raul Fernandez

Raul Fernandez starts 2025 as the only Aprilia MotoGP rider with prior race experience of the RC16.

Raul Fernandez - Route to MotoGP

It took Raul Fernandez until the closing stages of his final Moto3 season in 2020 to take podiums and race wins, but once he had tasted success with the Ajo team there was no looking back.

Many questioned the decision to move up to Moto2 (with Ajo) the following year, rather than staying to attempt a Moto3 title attack. But Fernandez soon silenced the doubters by qualifying second for his intermediate class debut and winning at round three in Portimao.

It was the first of eight victories, surpassing even Marc Marquez's rookie Moto2 performances, but mistakes cost Fernandez the points needed to beat team-mate Remy Gardner (five wins) to the title.

Fernandez then, somewhat reluctantly, moved straight up to MotoGP alongside Gardner at the Tech3 KTM team for 2022.

It was rumoured that the MotoGP promotion had been made by KTM in order to see off interest in Fernandez from Yamaha and Aprilia.

Raul Fernandez in MotoGP

Tech3 KTM (2022)

The RC16 gave little joy to either Tech3 rider with Fernandez rumoured to have told KTM he would seek pastures new for 2023 as early as round six at Jerez, where he withdrew due to injuries from an accident at Portimao.

Fernandez finally scored his first MotoGP points at Catalunya, round 9, and went on to overtake team-mate Gardner's tally of 13 by one point, with a best result of 12th.

With little to gain from trying to hold an unwilling Fernandez to his KTM option, the factory agreed to release the Spaniard for a 'reasonable' fee and he duly signed with RNF and Aprilia for 2023.

RNF Aprilia (2023)

Fernandez had been a previous target for Razlan Razali and Aprilia, who had kept faith in his abilities even after an anonymous rookie MotoGP season at Tech3.

But he took until the British round to beat his best KTM finish of twelfth, raising speculation about his place for 2024 - talk that RNF and Aprilia switfly denied.

A set-up change meant the young Spaniard finally felt he could ride as he liked from Barcelona, a claim backed up by eighth place in Misano, several more top-ten finishes and finally a career-best fifth in Valencia.

Trackhouse Aprilia (2024-Present)

The sudden change from CrytoDATA RNF to Trackhouse team ownership resulted in team-mate Miguel Oliveira receiving a factory-spec bike for the start of 2024.

Fernandez began the year on a '23 bike, with which he delivered career-saving performances such as leading in Catalunya and joining Oliveira on the German front row before his chassis and aerodynamics were upgraded to 24-spec in the summer break.

It proved a mixed blessing, with Fernandez forced to adjust his riding style and find a new base set-up during the season. 

Ultimately, he was unable to match his results on the 23 machine. Nonetheless, sixth place in the Phillip Island Sprint was a reminder of his raw talent.

Fernandez will be joined by rookie team-mate and reigning Moto2 chmapion Ai Ogura in 2025.