Let's talk MotoGP: This team is far too discreet, it can't continue

For several years now, one team in MotoGP has been particularly discreet, except that it's becoming a bit of a nuisance for the sport. Indeed, Trackhouse Racing, which operates the Aprilias, has failed to distinguish itself as a satellite team of the Noale-based firm, just like RNF before them. Why is this serious? Analysis.

 

Two disappointing drivers

 

Let's start by reviewing the facts. Since the start of the 2023 season, Aprilia has also had a satellite team, following Suzuki's defection from MotoGP. The RNF team lasted only one year under these conditions before sadly disappearing. At the start of 2024, the arrival of a brand new team in MotoGP was announced: Trackhouse Racing, led by Americans already present in NASCARLast season, with Raul Fernandez and Miguel Oliveira, Trackhouse didn't really shine, except for a second place for the Portuguese in the Sprint in Germany. Over a season, that's meager, especially when you know that these days, all teams have the equipment to make at least one Sunday podium during the year. Oliveira, who left for Pramac Yamaha, left his place to the rookie Ai Ogura, incidentally 2 Moto2024 world champion.

 

 

And since the Thailand Grand Prix... nothing has happened. Of course, There was this incredible weekend in Buriram for Ai Ogura, who, for his very first GP, competed with the best. But a posteriori, it was just a flash in the pan. Since then, the very discreet Japanese – who is not very comfortable in English, which limits his communication skills – has only regressed. He was good in Argentina, certainly, but was disqualified on Sunday for technical reasons. Then, he was injured and missed two Grands Prix. In a few weeks, Ogura completely lost track. He explained that he was faster when he knew nothing about the MotoGP, which makes sense, but which is not really reassuring for the future. Unfortunately for the Japanese, it does not seem to be coming back, since he has two retirements in the last five races, while his last appearance in the top 10 dates back to Mugello.

I don't have much to say about this pilot, as we never see it on screen. It's one of the invisible, exactly like his teammate, whom we will talk about again in a few lines. Well, he remains a rookie, certainly, but, even analyzing his season from this perspective, it remains lean.

Now let's move on to Raul Fernandez. As you know, if you have been following this column for a long time, I have never placed great hopes in this rider, who was nevertheless sold to us as a star when he was in Moto2.. In his defense, this season he's been pretty consistent: he's only had two Sunday crashes, and had managed to maintain a run of nine consecutive Grand Prix finishes in the points before crashing at Balaton Park. He has a top 5 at Brno, but we know he's capable of achieving his places, because he's done it before. In fact, I'm warning you right now: if he performs well at Barcelona, ​​one of his favorite tracks, don't be surprised : he did it last year before falling back into complete anonymity for the rest of the season.

 

 

What disappoints me most about him is his lack of speed. In Moto2, he was quite explosive, and very fast over one lap, to boot. He has never been able to convert this speed at the highest level, and I think this season, that is what is costing him dearly. He is still young, and yet, If he continues to remain invisible like this, I don't think he can stay in MotoGP for very long..

What's even more annoying is that The Aprilia RS-GP works! Based on the return of Jorge Martin and the consistency in Marco Bezzecchi's performance, we can safely say that it is the second best bike on the grid behind the unstoppable Ducati. And yet, while the officials are making progress, Trackhouse is stagnating, timidly, without making any noise. The most worrying thing is that this is not in the team's philosophy.

 

 

A failed American bet?

 

In my opinion, this situation is quite serious, and here's why. When Trackhouse arrived, we knew that Liberty Media, an American company, was going to buy MotoGP sooner or later. As explained yesterday, the United States is a huge market to conquer for our discipline., and there is no doubt that the authorities are currently working on this point. For this reason, I imagine that the Trackhouse Racing “test sample” represented an important piece of data for Liberty Media, which could see, according to the feedback from the bosses, how Americans reacted to the presence of a team from Uncle Sam's country in MotoGP.

It's not well known in Europe, but Trackhouse is a major entity across the Atlantic. The NASCAR team is very successful, with several remarkable drivers. The most famous of them, New Zealander Shane Van Gisbergen, has already won four times this year, each time on road courses! In fact, Trackhouse is banking on big wins, and has recruited this former Australian V8 Supercar Championship driver to sweep the board on conventional circuits, to hell with ovals! So, that's a lot of publicity for Trackhouse.

When we compare this explosive, surprising, spicy and sudden exploit-based program to what the MotoGP team has been doing for the past two years, it hurtsIf Trackhouse were to tire of these poor results, it could deal a first blow to the probable future American expansion, and, thus, to the interests of Liberty Media. who sees the USA as a true El Dorado.

I'm curious if you share my views on Trackhouse Racing. Tell me in the comments!

As a reminder, this article only reflects the thoughts of its author, and not of the entire editorial team.

 

 

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport