HRC factory rider, Ruben Fernandez sit in seventh place in the MXGP championship points and with the 450 class being so full of talent, that top ten position is pretty impressive, even though the Spaniard probably wants a little more.

Bavo Swijgers image

With team-mates, Jeffrey Herlings and Tom Vialle, second and third in the points, Fernandez will be wanting to move up the rankings once the season gets back underway in a months time.

Fernandez was never really able to challenge near the front in the last GP in Trentino. After struggling out of the gate, he fought his was through to inside the top 10 in both races and knows after his timed practice lap, that speed wasn’t the issue.

“Tough race day. I felt like I was always involved with another rider in some sort of battle. My life would have been a lot easier if I could have got the starts, but instead I was around the top 10 and it just wasn’t easy to find a good rhythm in either moto. Now we have a few weeks off so I’ll keep working hard and just trying to work my way towards to front guys, which I really don’t think I am too far behind.”

On the Saturday in Trentino, Fernandez, was pleased and frustrated with his race. After getting first gate-pick from being fastest in timed practice, the Honda CRF450RW rider got a good start and was well-placed to challenge at the front of the field.

Unfortunately, an error on the first lap dropped him down the field and he had to fight through to get back up to sixth place. The speed is definitely there for the Spaniard, so now he has to channel that with a good start and he’s definitely in with a chance of stepping up onto the podium for the first time this season.

“Good and bad day. Obviously, it was great to be the fastest in timed practice, and have first gate-pick, especially as behind me were Jeffrey and Tom for a Honda one-two-three. Then I got a good start in the qualifying race, but an early mistake dropped me down the field which on this track doesn’t make it easy. Still, I was able to come back to sixth place which is okay, but I definitely think I left some points out there and the goal is to do everything again – except that small mistake.”

Fernandez will now utilising this four weekend break to try and come back swinging for the sixth round of the championship in Lacapelle-Marival, France on May 23-24.