Struggling MotoGP rider is being watched very closely by factory bosses, he understands ‘nothing’ about their bike

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Honda have largely dominated the rider market rumours since the start of the 2025 MotoGP season, but HRC are not the only factory team considering potential deals.

A number of names may shuffle around the grid as early as the 2026 campaign, with at least five riders also currently facing uncertain futures. Franco Morbidelli, Jack Miller, Luca Marini, Johann Zarco and Somkiat Chantra are all set to be out of contract at the end of this season.

Marini’s situation in particular has seen Honda study the MotoGP rider market for a possible new teammate for Joan Mir next year. But Yamaha are competing with Honda to sign Toprak Razgatlioglu for Pramac, and Pedro Acosta’s management expects him to stay at KTM now.

Aprilia are keeping an eye on Raul Fernandez, despite his troubles at Trackhouse

Aprilia are also keeping close tabs on riders who could join 2024 champion Jorge Martin plus Marco Bezzecchi on factory contracts. That is according to The Race, which reports Aprilia are monitoring Raul Fernandez, despite the Trackhouse rider no longer holding a works deal.

Fernandez was contracted directly to Aprilia last year whilst riding for Trackhouse after they took control of the RNF outfit. But the 24-year-old secured his spot on the grid for the 2025 MotoGP season last July when Fernandez and Trackhouse agreed on a two-year direct deal.

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

Trackhouse have so far not come to revel in their decision to retain Fernandez, though, with rookie teammate Ai Ogura showing the Spaniard up. Fernandez has only scored six points in the first five rounds compared to the 37 Ogura holds, to sit 19th and eighth in the standings.

Additionally, Fernandez feels it is ‘crucial’ he feels comfortable on Aprilia’s 2025 bike soon as the Trackhouse rider could not ‘find anything’ to unlock his pace ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix. He even finished P15 at Jerez, 14.803s off Ogura in P8, after they qualified P17 and P15.

But figures within the Aprilia camp believe a large part of Fernandez’s problems are down to the psychological side, having noticed the Madrid native starts to spiral if his race weekends go pear-shaped. Trackhouse are also giving no indications that they plan to drop Fernandez.

Trackhouse rider Raul Fernandez understands ‘nothing’ about Aprilia’s 2025 MotoGP bike

Aprilia still have belief in Fernandez’s potential as the Noale factory think some of his issues so far this season even stem from the Trackhouse ace picking up some riding style habits on their 2024 bike which are less beneficial on their 2025 challenger. But he is really struggling.

Fernandez has not scored a top-10 finish in the past eight Grands Prix since securing P10 in last year’s Australian GP at Phillip Island. His teammate, however, has only finished outside of the top-10 once since Ogura enjoyed the best MotoGP debut since Marc Marquez in 2013.

The Race even quotes Fernandez as admitting after the Spanish GP that the Trackhouse ace understands “nothing” about Aprilia’s 2025 MotoGP bike as the RS-GP25 is “very different” to the RS-GP24. Fernandez even noted: “I cannot be fast. I feel that I cannot turn the bike.”

He was not a huge fan of the RS-GP24, either, after Fernandez recorded his best results last season while still using an RS-GP23. Aprilia gave Fernandez a 2024-spec bike at Silverstone for the second half of the year after taking seven-straight top-10s including P6 at Barcelona.