Raul Fernandez MotoGP shock triumph has electrified the 2025 MotoGP season, as the Trackhouse rider defied expectations to secure an unforgettable victory and a second-place finish in two of the last four races. Fernandez’s rapid rise has caught Aprilia and the entire paddock off guard, marking a transformative chapter in his fourth year competing at the top level and his third season aligned with the Trackhouse squad, previously known as RNF.
Coming into the year, Fernandez’s career peak was a sixth-place finish at the 2023 Valencia Grand Prix. However, halfway through the 2025 campaign, he began a remarkable turnaround, accumulating six top-10 results over seven pre-summer break races. After a brief setback in Austria, he reignited his season with a sensational first Sprint podium in Indonesia. Just two weeks later, he delivered a masterclass at the Australia Sprint, earning second, and then stole the show by winning the Australian Grand Prix. He rounded off this meteoric run with another podium appearance in Valencia, proudly cementing himself as one of the season’s biggest surprises.
Aprilia Technical Leaders React to Unexpected Success
Aprilia Racing’s Technical Director, Fabiano Sterlacchini, openly shared his amazed reaction to Fernandez’s end-of-season flourish, underscoring just how unforeseen this surge in form was for the team.
“He’s a super-talented rider, that is quite clear – he showed, also in the previous seasons in the other categories.”
– Fabiano Sterlacchini, Technical Director, Aprilia Racing
Sterlacchini elaborated on the technical mastery required to excel at MotoGP’s highest level, particularly regarding braking strategy, electronics, and tire management. These intricacies have posed a challenge to many, but Fernandez’s rapid adaptation dispelled any previous doubts about his race–round consistency and mental resilience.
“I was expecting that – okay, he has the speed, but not to manage the race at the level that he did here, but also for example in Phillip Island. So, he’s our asset, so we are more than happy to have this big surprise.”
– Fabiano Sterlacchini, Technical Director, Aprilia Racing
Marco Bezzecchi and the Intensifying Battle for Aprilia
While Fernandez’s story grabbed headlines, Marco Bezzecchi played a crucial role in Aprilia’s competitive presence during the season, especially as Jorge Martin was sidelined. Bezzecchi delivered two memorable wins in Portugal and Valencia, consistently showcasing his pace and tenacity across the closing rounds. The final Valencia race saw Fernandez and Bezzecchi in head-to-head combat, offering a spectacle that testified to Aprilia’s increased competitiveness and teamwork.
“It’s positive because it means that we made a good job together with the team, together with the engineers,”
– Marco Bezzecchi, Rider
Bezzecchi, reflecting after the Valencia test, found added encouragement in Fernandez’s speed, signaling healthy intra-team competition.
“Of course, this is a track where also Raul [Fernandez] is super-quick, so it was good to see him fast – more, for sure, for the engineers than for me because during the race we had the fight! I’m joking, it’s positive.”
– Marco Bezzecchi, Rider
Future Prospects for Fernandez and MotoGP
With the curtain closed on this drama-filled season, the MotoGP paddock and fans are abuzz with anticipation for what Raul Fernandez will accomplish next. By rapidly transforming from a top-ten hopeful to a consistent podium threat and even race winner, the young Spaniard has inspired the community and set new expectations for Aprilia and the broader MotoGP world. His upward trajectory is poised to energize both teams and supporters heading into future races, as the stage is set for more surprises and rivalries in elite racing.
