TRACKHOUSE LOCKS IN RAUL FERNANDEZ AFTER SILVERSTONE WIN FOLLOWING UNCERTAIN FUTURE

Trackhouse owner Justin Marks described Raul Fernandez’s Silverstone triumph as a defining moment for the team—made even more special because Marks was on site for the race. On the Aprilia, Fernandez delivered a Grand Prix win that arrived after a period of uncertainty about his future at Trackhouse, a situation that Marks said could have derailed performance but ultimately did not.

Marks explained that while the team’s plans were still being shaped, teammate Ai Ogura had already secured his next step months earlier, committing to Yamaha. For Marks, Ogura’s decision came as a surprise, and it left Trackhouse needing time to understand what its rider lineup would look like. In that context, Fernandez’s contract situation became a point of patience. “We had not expected that Ai to this point to make the decision he made. So we started to figure out what our future would look like on this side of the garage. At the same time, Raul was asking, ‘Hey, where is my contract?’ So he had to be very patient,” Marks said.

Despite that uncertainty, Marks emphasized that Fernandez continued to do his job and perform. “There was a period where he wasn’t sure about his future. But during that uncertainty he delivered his performance. Then we signed the contract. Now he has security and a multi-year contract. We showed him our support—and he kept delivering,” he said. Marks also framed Fernandez’s key strength as professionalism under pressure: “No matter what happens in the garage, in the hospitality or at home, going out and doing your job is what makes a great sportsman.”

Looking back, Marks said Fernandez’s path in MotoGP was not straightforward. After success in Moto2, he initially struggled to translate his potential into consistent results in the premier class. Marks attributed that to the different pace of development between categories. “When he had his Moto2 contract, he won races. Then he came here and for a few years the question was: will he be able to do it? It’s just a different development pace,” Marks said. With a hint of humor, he added, “I think he was waiting the whole time for Trackhouse.”

A major part of that development, according to Marks, was the trust built inside the team. He drew on his own experience as a former professional racer—spending two decades in the sport—to explain the psychological weight riders carry. “I know what these guys go through. I know what it feels like to lose. I know what crashes feel like. I know what it feels like when, for a longer period, you don’t get the results you want on track. A lot of it is psychology,” Marks said.

Because of that, Marks said his communication with Fernandez focused on support and problem-solving rather than pressure. “My communication with Raul was strongly about supporting him: what do you need, what helps you? When he was not feeling good, it was about showing him: don’t worry, it’s not a big deal. We make mistakes, we crash, sometimes the performance isn’t there—but we will get there,” he explained.

Marks linked that environment to Fernandez becoming more patient and more focused on incremental improvement. “He started to feel: this is a team where I’m important. This team is investing in my future. This team believes I can achieve great things,” Marks said. “That allowed him to say: okay, I can be more patient. I can just focus on the work and try to get better step by step.”

For Marks, the Silverstone win was also a personal milestone. “It’s the first race where I was there in person and we won,” he said. But he stressed that the most meaningful part was celebrating with the entire squad. “The best part is being with the whole team, celebrating with them, telling them how proud we are. Because in this sport it’s about people. It’s about people working together, working hard, and building a real team,” Marks added.

In his role as owner, Marks said his job is to provide the conditions for success—supporting the riders, backing them, and ensuring they have what they need. “I see myself in the position to support them, to give them backing, to build them up and to provide everything they need. Being here and celebrating with them is something very special,” he concluded.