Raul Fernandez's Weird MotoGP Career Gets Another Extension, But Questions Remain

Raul Fernandez has signed a new two-year deal with Trackhouse Aprilia, providing some stability to a MotoGP career still best described as inconclusive. After a period of uncertainty, this decision ends speculation about his future.

The new contract comes after a turbulent period where Fernandez appeared convinced that team boss Davide Brivio's impending move to Honda was bad news. He was even linked to a shock return to Tech3 KTM, the team where he had a miserable rookie season in 2022. However, the official announcement from Trackhouse on Wednesday morning confirmed that the 25-year-old would stay.

Team owner Justin Marks said Fernandez had "grown as a rider both on the bike and with his preparation, approach and maturity." Winning last year's Australian Grand Prix and the Mugello sprint this year shows significant progress from his shaky start in MotoGP.

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His sole Moto2 season in 2021 was astonishingly successful, finishing second in the championship in his only attempt at a category notoriously hard for rookies. That success prompted KTM to hurriedly promote him to MotoGP to fend off Yamaha's interest, a decision later regretted by all parties. A disastrous rookie season saw him qualify above 20th only once and never finish higher than 12th.

After being rescued by RNF Aprilia, which later became Trackhouse, Fernandez only started to consistently show his true form in late 2025, coinciding with Aprilia becoming the benchmark bike. The question remains: was he only good because he had the best bike? The arrival of teammate Ai Ogura, who has been sensational as a rookie and now a title contender, has further overshadowed Fernandez's progress.

However, it is Ogura's departure to Yamaha that likely secured Fernandez's new contract. With Ogura leaving, Fernandez becomes a sensible continuity option alongside the expected arrival of Enea Bastianini from Tech3. Marks added, "We believe this team and these bikes are poised to be a consistent championship threat, and Raul can help carry us to great heights." While that statement sounds more realistic than a year ago, Fernandez still needs to deliver more consistently for it to truly come true.

Reported by The-Race, this new contract gives Fernandez a chance to answer the lingering doubts about his career.