Augusto Fernández and Yamaha Factory Racing Set for Wild-Card Entry at Valencia GP

Spanish rider continues V4 prototype testing ahead of crucial 2026 winter program

Cheste, Spain – The Yamaha Factory Racing Team has confirmed that Augusto Fernández will make a wild-card appearance at the Grand Prix of the Valencian Community this weekend. The 2022 Moto2 World Champion and former MotoGP rider returns to the grid with Yamaha as part of the team’s continued V4-powered prototype engine development program ahead of the 2026 winter testing phase, which begins on Tuesday.

Yamaha’s Final Race Weekend Test Before Winter

This weekend’s Valencia GP marks the fifth wild-card appearance of the season for Fernández, who has already participated at Aragon, Brno, Misano, and Sepang with Yamaha’s test team. At Misano and Sepang, he put the V4 prototype engine through its paces under real race conditions — a critical step in Yamaha’s mission to return to the front of the MotoGP field.

The Valencia outing will provide further race-setting data and valuable insights for Yamaha engineers as they refine the power delivery, chassis balance, and overall race performance of the new V4 engine platform.

Fernández Ready for Familiar Territory

Fernández, who celebrated podium finishes at Valencia in Moto2 — third in 2021 and second in 2022 — is eager to return to one of his strongest circuits.

“I’m happy to be back racing again, and especially to be back racing in Valencia,” said Augusto Fernández, Yamaha Factory Racing Test Rider. “I’m looking forward to continue improving the V4-powered prototype and collecting further data. It will be an important weekend to decide the direction to work in during this winter and next year. I can’t wait to get started!”

The Circuit Ricardo Tormo: MotoGP’s Season Finale Stage

Built in 1999, the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Cheste has become synonymous with MotoGP’s season finale. Except for 2020 and 2024, the Valencian GP has been the traditional closing round since 2002. The 4.0 km circuit features 14 corners (nine left and five right), an 876-meter straight, and a unique anti-clockwise layout that challenges riders’ precision and endurance.

With stadium-style grandstands accommodating up to 150,000 fans, Valencia offers one of the most immersive atmospheres in motorsport — a fitting venue for Yamaha’s final test race before the start of 2026 preparations.

Looking Ahead

For Yamaha, Fernández’s participation is more than a wildcard—it’s a key part of the brand’s development roadmapas it works toward a competitive comeback with its next-generation V4 engine. The data gathered in Valencia will play a pivotal role in shaping Yamaha’s 2026 MotoGP campaign, marking another step in the manufacturer’s ongoing evolution.