Aprilia have told 59-race MotoGP rider to make ‘big sweeping changes’ after difficult start to 2025

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Aprilia have had a nightmare start to the 2025 MotoGP season. The manufacturer were building an exciting project, with defending champion Jorge Martin on board.

However, that project was derailed when the Spaniard suffered fractures in a crash in pre-season in Sepang. Crashing a motocross bike during his recovery, Martin missed the opening three rounds of 2025.

Making his return at the Qatar Grand Prix, the 27-year-old suffered further injuries after a horrifying collision with Fabio Di Giannantonio. Aleix Espargaro says Martin will face a mental blow as he is set for an even longer period on the sidelines.

Aprilia will also no doubt be devastated. The Noale-based outfit had high hopes for 2025, but they now sit just one point ahead of KTM and Yamaha in the standings.

Martin’s teammate Marco Bezzecchi has struggled to adapt after moving from Ducati. While the Italian has produced strong performances in the races, qualifying has been an issue as he sits seventh with 32 points.

Trackhouse rider Ai Ogura has hugely impressed in MotoGP thus far, giving Aprilia some optimism with his displays. However, his teammate is noticeably struggling.

Aprilia have told Raul Fernandez to make ‘big sweeping changes’ after difficult start to 2025

Raul Fernandez also had his pre-season compromised through injury. He missed testing in Sepang after fracturing his left hand and foot in a crash.

The 59-race MotoGP rider has had a miserable start to 2025. After four rounds, Fernandez has scored just five points, with a best result of 12th in Austin.

Aprilia need to see improvements from the 24-year-old, especially in their current situation. Journalist Simon Patterson says the manufacturer has requested ‘big sweeping changes’ from Fernandez to help gather data.

“At the minute, I still think we have really, very little understanding of where the whole Aprilia project is,” he said via The Race MotoGP YouTube channel.

“We’re measuring without the benchmark of essentially anyone from last year who was competitive on the bike, with the only rider that has remained from last year to this year being Raul Fernandez.

“Who’s struggling, as he’s admitted quite openly recently, struggling mentally to find what he needs to perform on the bike.

“But as well as that, it just isn’t working on a race bike, it sounds like. He’s making big sweeping changes every weekend, largely at the request of Aprilia to help them gather data and test different things.

“So, he’s not the benchmark we’d maybe, and Aprilia had definitely hoped he would be coming into this season.”

READ MORE: Everything to know about Raul Fernandez from net worth to career stats

Raul Fernandez has been dominated by Ai Ogura thus far in 2025

It has not been an easy ride for Fernandez since joining MotoGP in 2022. Since moving from KTM to Aprilia in 2023, he has finished in the top five once in the premier class.

The Spaniard scored 66 points in 2024 as he struggled for consistency. Aprilia have given him a factory bike for 2025 – an opportunity he is not currently taking.

Trackhouse teammate Ogura has adapted seamlessly to the premier class after winning Moto2 last year. Finishing fourth on debut in the Thailand Sprint, the Japanese rider has 29 points, while Fernandez has not broke into the top 10.

Neil Hodgson does not get the hype around Fernandez as he is being ‘destroyed’ by Ogura thus far in 2025. The Spaniard needs to find serious improvement to help Aprilia’s desperate situation.