A clue from MotoGP testing has highlighted a rider at-risk of the chop for subsequent season.
Raul Fernandez is beneath scrutiny for his place within the 2026 MotoGP rider line-up.
Trackhouse opted to place Manu Gonzalez, the Moto2 factors chief, on their bike for the Aragon MotoGP check.
The group insisted it was nothing to do with their 2026 race choices. And Aprilia are depleted on account of Jorge Martin’s absence. However there might be extra to it than meets the attention.
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“Trackhouse say it’s not an audition however, to me, it seems to be like they’re testing out folks,” Jordan Moreland advised the Crash MotoGP podcast.
‘Persistence with Raul Fernandez working out’
Raul Fernandez
Lewis Duncan stated: “You may’t have a look at it as something aside from the persistence with Raul Fernandez working out.
“At Silverstone, Massimo Rivola stated ‘he has been underperforming’.
“Final 12 months was a bit tough for him by way of having to swap bikes. However there was an expectation he would take a step ahead this 12 months – however he hasn’t.
“They’ve had a chance. Trackhouse’s ethos is geared in the direction of giving folks alternatives. That goes to the NASCAR undertaking, as properly.
“It’s good for them to make use of that spare bike as a chance for a younger rider.
“In a perfect state of affairs Jorge Martin wouldn’t be injured, and also you stick Lorenzo Savadori on the bike to do his testing.
“It speaks to the issues that Aprilia has, with its roster of reserve riders.
“Most producers have a few names to name upon, whether or not that’s check riders or from World Superbikes. Aprilia doesn’t have that.
“There is a component of that right here, as properly.
“However actually it’s exhausting not to take a look at this as a chance for subsequent 12 months.
“Fernandez has a deal however do offers imply a lot? Miguel Oliveira may be the odd-one-out at Pramac regardless of having a two-year contract. We’ve got seen different riders with two-year contracts have them ripped up and put within the bin.
“Simply because Fernandez has a contract for subsequent 12 months, it doesn’t save him.
“In the event you’re Trackhouse and also you see how properly it’s gone with a rookie [Ogura], you’ll be trying on the job that Gonzalez is doing. He’s confirmed.
“Fernandez was good in his one Moto2 season however he hasn’t been good in MotoGP at any level. He hasn’t, at any level, outshone anybody – not any teammate or anybody inside the similar producer.
“You may defend Raul however good riders on unhealthy bikes have nonetheless proven potential.
“I belief that Trackhouse usually are not immediately placing stress on Raul. Nevertheless it’s exhausting not to take a look at this as a chance for subsequent 12 months.
“Rightly so, as a result of Raul hasn’t completed sufficient to earn his trip this 12 months.”
Fernandez is into his fourth MotoGP season, and his third using an Aprilia.
Final 12 months he completed sixteenth total however, to this point in 2025, sits nineteenth within the MotoGP standings.
A P7 at Le Mans is his finest consequence, and he has solely completed inside the highest 10 twice.
However Trackhouse insist they maintain religion in Fernandez.
