Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1547449
Yamaha Motor Europe Signs Ruben Fernandez to Factory MXGP Team A fter four seasons with the Honda HRC team, Ruben Fer- nandez switches to Yamaha Motor Europe's Factory MXGP team for 2027. The Spanish native is now set to race a factory YZ450FM in the MXGP division of the FIM Motocross World Championship. He joins five-time FIM Motocross World Champion Tim Gajser as the Yamaha team moves to a new in-house operation based at Yamaha's Racing headquarters in Gerno di Lesmo, Italy. "I'm excited for the next chapter of my career and the new envi- ronment," Fernandez said. "After spending so many years with the same team, the same people, and the same bike, I'm looking forward to this change. Everything is new—the people, the bike, the team—and I'm looking forward to the new challenge. It is motivat- ing. I feel this change is exactly what I need to move forward and to take the next step in my career. I've been with Yamaha in the past; I remember really liking the chas- sis and the way it handled. While I know the YZ450F is different from the YZ250F, and the bikes have developed over the years, I'm positive I can make the most of this opportunity. And I hope that together with the team, we can consistently fight up front and that I can show my full potential." "We are delighted to welcome Ruben back to the Yamaha fam- ily," said Alexandre Kowalski, Yamaha Motor Europe Off-Road Racing Manager. "As a grand prix winner and proven front-runner, his speed and professionalism will be a major asset to our fac- tory program. His arrival coincides with a new era for Yamaha as we transition to a fully in-house opera- tion. Based at our new headquar- ters in Gerno di Lesmo, our MXGP team will now benefit from the same advanced engineering and technical expertise as our Mo- toGP and WorldSBK projects. By housing these efforts under one roof, we are providing Ruben with a world-class platform. He knows what it takes to win, and we are confident that with the support of the team—and the new infrastruc- ture—he will have all the tools he needs to achieve his goals." CN WIND IN THE P34 Ruben Fernandez joins the Factory Yamaha MXGP team for 2027.