Raul Fernandez has revealed that a simple team moment early in the 2025 season played a key role in his MotoGP turnaround, jokingly pointing to a “magic pizza” as the catalyst for his rise to race-winning form.
The Trackhouse Aprilia rider entered 2025 under heavy pressure as the only returning rider within Aprilia’s MotoGP structure. However, the opening phase of the season proved difficult, with Fernandez struggling for form and being outperformed by rookie team-mate Ai Ogura. He failed to break into the top 10 across the first five rounds of the championship.
A turning point came around the Spanish Grand Prix, where post-race testing at Jerez helped the team adapt the bike more effectively to Fernandez’s riding style. Alongside the technical progress, Fernandez highlighted a bonding moment with the team during that period, which helped lift his mindset after one of the toughest races of his MotoGP career.
From that point on, Fernandez said everything began to change, with confidence returning and performances improving significantly as the season progressed.
Fernandez also praised the people around him for their role in his recovery. He highlighted his long-standing relationship with crew chief Noe Herrera, whom he has worked with since 2021, describing him as someone who offers both encouragement and honest criticism when needed. Fernandez stressed how important that balance is for a rider at the highest level.
He also credited Trackhouse team boss Davide Brivio for his guidance and support, particularly during the most difficult moments at the start of the season. Fernandez said Brivio’s experience in MotoGP has been invaluable and that working alongside people he can learn from every day has made a major difference.
During the same event, Trackhouse unveiled its plans for the 2026 season, revealing two liveries it will race with. The team will once again partner with Gulf, using the special Gulf colours at five rounds, while its corporate colours will feature at the remaining races.
