Honda HRC’s Rising Duo Ready to Shine at Matterley

With Gajser and Zanchi absent, Ruben Fernandez and Valerio Lata step into the spotlight at Matterley Basin, aiming to turn opportunity into podiums for Honda HRC.

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When the spotlight fades from the stars, sometimes the best stories emerge from those waiting in the wings. That’s the fresh narrative unfolding for Team Honda HRC as they head into Round 12 of the 2025 Motocross World Championship at Matterley Basin, a fan-favourite circuit, and this year, a rare stage for redemption and rising talent.

For once, it’s not about Tim Gajser’s breathtaking last-corner heroics or Ferruccio Zanchi’s winning streak at this venue. This time, with both of them absent, the story belongs to the other half of HRC’s roster: Ruben Fernandez and Valerio Lata. And perhaps that’s what makes this round even more intriguing.

No Gajser? No Zanchi? Not a Problem.

In sports, absence is often viewed as a disadvantage. But for Honda HRC, the absence of its biggest names has created an unexpected opportunity: a clean spotlight for Fernandez and Lata to own the stage without being overshadowed by the heavyweights.

And that’s a compelling scenario. Fernandez arrives fresh from a gritty fifth-place finish in Latvia, where he pushed through lingering pain from a German crash. Now, recharged and close to full fitness, he returns to one of his favourite tracks, where his confidence is peaking—not least because of his strong outing here at last year’s Motocross of Nations.

Meanwhile, Valerio Lata, still early in his MX2 journey under the HRC banner, has a different kind of opportunity: to prove that his rising form wasn’t just a flash. Matterley will be his first Grand Prix at this iconic venue as a factory rider—and he’s hungry to erase the memory of Latvia and remind everyone why he’s been turning heads all season.

Matterley: Grand Stage for Grit and Growth

One thing is for sure: Matterley Basin is no ordinary circuit. With its sweeping layout, elevation changes, and big jumps, it rewards bravery and precision in equal measure. The good news? The forecast promises rare British sunshine all weekend, offering a fast, clean racing surface—a contrast to the chaos of muddy rounds past.

For Ruben and Valerio, this is the perfect canvas: one is chasing redemption after injury, the other chasing recognition after being the underdog for most of the year.

Racing Without the Stars But Not Without Fire

Team Manager Marcus Pereira de Freitas puts it best—this weekend is less about what’s missing and more about who’s stepping up. “Ruben is ready to attack again, and Valerio is eager to put the last round behind him. It feels like we’re heading into something big.”

So while fans may miss the marquee names, what we get instead is something equally thrilling: a chance to see the next layer of Honda’s factory strength rise to the occasion. It’s not about Gajser’s legend or Zanchi’s stats this weekend—it’s about two hungry riders, one elite factory setup, and a rare chance to break out of the shadows.