After four years: HRC parts ways with Ruben Fernandez

Ruben Fernandez had moved from Livia Lancelot’s Team Honda 114 Motorsports to the factory team in 2023 following impressive performances and was regarded as one of the most promising young talents. Right from the season opener in Villa La Angostura, Fernandez won the Argentine Grand Prix on his HRC debut, ahead of Jeffrey Herlings and Jorge Prado. It was also his first Grand Prix victory in the MXGP. Further podium finishes in Spain, Germany and Italy followed. The then 24-year-old finished his first World Championship season with the Honda works team in fifth place.

Injury woes in 2024

The following season proved to be much more difficult. Due to several injuries, Fernandez was only able to complete four Grand Prix races in full. A year later, the Spaniard made a comeback with three further podium finishes and finished fourth in the MXGP World Championship in 2025.

In 2026, too, the rider with start number 70 regularly battled amongst the front-runners. Alongside another podium finish in the Teutschenthal basin, he narrowly missed out on further top-three results. A crash at the Turkish Grand Prix brought his season to a premature end. At that point, Fernandez was ranked fifth in the World Championship standings. “The whole team will miss his presence both on and off the track,” the team said in his farewell statement. “We wish him every success for 2027 and beyond.”