Trackhouse Targets Next US MotoGP Champion: ‘Build from the Bottom’

Justin Marks, founder of Trackhouse Racing, has set a big goal behind the euphoria of the team’s first MotoGP win. In a lengthy interview, he stressed that the biggest mission is not just winning, but producing a world champion from the United States.

Raul Fernandez’s victory at Silverstone marked a milestone for Trackhouse, a team only two seasons into the world championship. But Marks, a former NASCAR racer who founded the team in 2020, is not resting on his laurels. He sees the win as the start of a more ambitious long-term project.

“Everything came together: the riding style of both our riders, the mechanics’ cooperation, and sponsor support,” said Marks, describing this period as “truly magical” for his team. He also praised Fernandez’s maturity, who kept performing impressively amid uncertainty about his future weeks earlier.

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Regarding Ai Ogura’s departure, Marks said he respects the Japanese rider’s decision. “He came to us and said he would choose another path. We didn’t try to convince him to stay. We respect that,” he said. Ogura’s replacement will be announced before Aragon.

The relationship with Aprilia also drew attention. Marks reiterated his philosophy from the start: “I don’t want a factory team and a satellite team. I want two teams working as partners.” Now, they are rivals on track but partners off it.

But Marks’ biggest dream is to see an American rider win in MotoGP with Trackhouse colors. He knows it will take time, especially due to the lack of a solid junior racing structure in the US. “The next American MotoGP champion is probably only three years old right now,” he concluded.