Justin Marks has highlighted an attribute in Raul Fernandez that \u201cgreat riders\u201d must have in MotoGP.<\/p>\n
The drawn-out process of Raul Fernandez\u2019s renewal negotiations with Trackhouse Racing for MotoGP 2027 highlighted an attribute in the Spaniard that is a necessity for riders who want to win a premier class title, Justin Marks says.<\/p>\n
Raul Fernandez will enter his third contract with Trackhouse Aprilia next season, with 2028 to follow in what will be his sixth year with the American-owned team.<\/p>\n
The Spanish rider won his first premier class race at the end of last year in Australia and has won three times in 2026, twice in Sprints (Mugello and Assen) and once in a grand prix (Silverstone).<\/p>\n
But it was Fernandez\u2019s ability to perform during the period of time in the middle of the first half of the season when he was unsure of what his future would be that he showed to team owner Justin Marks a quality that the former NASCAR driver thinks is a must for riders who want to contend for world titles.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was very curious to see how he [Fernandez] was going to react [when his future was uncertain],\u201d Marks said, speaking to the MotoGP world feed broadcast during Practice at Silverstone.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t intentional, we didn\u2019t do it on purpose, we just knew there was a time period there where we couldn\u2019t give him the answers to figure out the future of our team, what\u2019s going to come after Ogura \u2013 all that kind of stuff.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cJust during that period, seeing him take the stress and the uncertainty and channel that into performance on the race track \u2013 that\u2019s what the great riders have to do.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re going to win a championship at this level, the stress and pressure only go up and up, and you have to continue to deliver.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a great guy, he\u2019s become a friend, and he\u2019s truly a member of the family here at Trackhouse.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marks also said that the maturity Fernandez showed during that uncertain period was a factor in Trackhouse deciding to renew with him.<\/p>\n
\u201cRaul feels like the original era at Trackhouse and he\u2019s put in a lot of work over the years, trusted the team,\u201d Marks said.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring that time of uncertainty, he was able to compartmentalise that and get on the race track and do the job, which shows resilience, which shows maturity in approach.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a great member of this team, he\u2019s really coming into his own as a rider right now, and I think he\u2019s got big, big things in his future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, it just made all the sense in the world for him to stay with Trackhouse.\u201d<\/p>\n