Raul Fernandez’s shock victory on the Australian MotoGP left Davide Brivio “positively shocked” by the “maturity” the four-year premier class rider displayed.
Fernandez had not stepped on a grand prix podium within the MotoGP class since stepping up from Moto2 in 2022.
However at Phillip Island he was introduced – due to the absence of Marc Marquez and the double lengthy lap penalty for Marco Bezzecchi for inflicting the crash that led to that absence – with a possibility to problem for victory.
Within the Aprilia he had the very best bike, and he primarily had no competitors.
Nevertheless, merely having the chance to win just isn’t sufficient to win by itself, and Trackhouse Aprilia Staff Principal Davide Brivio says he was impressed by the calmness and “maturity” proven by the 24-year-old in managing tyres, and controlling himself when he was handed by Pedro Acosta to start with.
“In fact, more than pleased to have gained the race,” stated Brivio, chatting with the MotoGP world feed broadcast throughout FP1 in Sepang.
“It’s nice, implausible. I’m very comfortable the way in which it got here, the way in which he [Fernandez] managed the race, as a result of there was plenty of discuss with the engineers about tyre administration, how vital is Phillip Island by the top of the race with tyres and he simply did every little thing good.
“Additionally, when Pedro [Acosta] overtook him, he stayed calm, in management, ready.
“So, from this viewpoint, he positively shocked me, as a result of it’s the primary time we see him doing this in MotoGP.
“I used to be just a little bit apprehensive, ‘Can he handle, can he maintain going?’
“However, he did every little thing very effectively, so I’m very comfortable for this. He confirmed maturity and I hope we will maintain utilizing [it] to any extent further.”
A step too early?
Fernandez’s path to MotoGP success was one which hardly ever appeared as if it could attain its vacation spot. The Spanish rider was thought-about a serial underperformer in his first years within the class and was hardly ever in a position to obtain the form of outcomes his one-year Moto2 profession instructed he may.
However from the second third of the 2025 season there have been indicators of enchancment. Aprilia was making strides with the RS-GP and Fernandez was considerably following suite, ending contained in the top-10 in six of the final seven races earlier than the summer season break.
After a short dip in type in Hungary, Catalunya, and San Marino, Fernandez was again within the top-10 from the beginning of the Asian tour in Japan on the finish of September, after which took his first MotoGP podium of any variety within the Indonesian Dash.
There was a build-up, then, to the Australian victory, and the quantity time for that build-up to succeed in its crescendo is put, by Brivio, right down to a variety of components, together with the timing of his transfer to MotoGP.
“In all probability he switched from Moto2 to MotoGP possibly too early,” Brivio stated.
“And in addition, coming from eight wins in Moto2, most likely he was feeling like prepared for MotoGP – which isn’t the case, whenever you come it’s a must to be taught.
“So, most likely he had additionally some up and down on increase his mindset, to simply accept that in MotoGP he might need struggles.
“Additionally, he modified groups after one yr, so most likely now’s just a little bit extra stability – the identical bike, similar group for 2 or three years, the identical folks round. Perhaps that additionally helped.
“And, in fact, he needs to be conscious how troublesome is MotoGP, how exhausting he has to work.
“This winter he labored so much on enhancing his bodily situation which final yr was just a little bit vital.
“So, I believe he’s getting mature additionally exterior of the monitor. The maturity can be exterior of the monitor, and every little thing helps: good bike, good growth from Aprilia, his expertise, stability, folks round – all collectively, it’s an enormous bundle whenever you put this collectively.”
