Augusto Fernández Returns for British GP

Yamaha test rider Augusto Fernández will make a wild-card appearance at Silverstone, helping accelerate the development of Yamaha’s MotoGP machine under competitive race conditions.

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The Yamaha Factory Racing Team is back in action this weekend as the MotoGP World Championship resumes after the summer break with Round 12 at the iconic Silverstone Circuit. Joining the team is official Yamaha test rider Augusto Fernández, who will compete as a wild-card entry to support the manufacturer’s ongoing MotoGP development programme.

Fernández’s participation is aimed at gathering valuable race data that cannot be replicated during private testing. By competing alongside the regular MotoGP field, Yamaha hopes to further refine its prototype and accelerate development as the 2026 season continues.

The 2022 Moto2 World Champion has become an important part of Yamaha’s testing efforts since joining the manufacturer. His experience as a full-time MotoGP rider during the 2023 and 2024 seasons allows him to provide detailed technical feedback that plays a key role in improving the YZR-M1.

Silverstone is also a circuit where Fernández has enjoyed success throughout his Grand Prix career. The Spanish rider claimed Moto2 victories at the British Grand Prix in both 2019 and 2022 and recorded his best MotoGP result at the venue with an 11th-place finish in 2023.

As the championship enters its second half, Fernández is looking forward to returning to race conditions after the summer hiatus while continuing Yamaha’s development efforts.

“I’m happy to be back racing after the summer break and to continue helping with the development of the bike. Silverstone is a nice circuit with a lot of fast corners, and it’s always enjoyable to ride there. The goals for this weekend are clear: I want to be on the pace as fast as possible in order to gather as much useful information as we can,” said Augusto Fernández.

The British Grand Prix presents an ideal opportunity for Yamaha to evaluate new ideas under competitive conditions. Racing alongside the world’s fastest riders provides engineers with critical information on bike performance, tyre behaviour, race pace, and overall competitiveness that cannot always be measured during standard test sessions.

The Silverstone Circuit remains one of the most demanding tracks on the MotoGP calendar. Featuring eight left-hand corners and ten right-hand corners, Silverstone places heavy demands on chassis balance, aerodynamic performance, and tyre management. These characteristics make the British venue one of the best locations for manufacturers to evaluate upgrades and collect meaningful development data.

For Yamaha, having Fernández on the grid provides another opportunity to accelerate the evolution of its MotoGP package while gathering information that could benefit its factory riders during the remainder of the season.

With the championship returning after the summer break, all eyes will be on Silverstone as Yamaha continues its pursuit of improved performance through real-world race development.