Fernandez is a prime example where hard work pays off, not relying on just talent alone but consistently putting in the effort to improve in every aspect of the sport. In his early career he bounced around between teams and although he couldn’t always show his potential, there was always the belief that with the right guidance, he could mix it up with the very best riders in the world.

In 2021 that critical move came about, as he joined the Honda 114 Motorsports team, under the tutelage of Livia Lancelot and the watchful eye of Giacomo Gariboldi. The move soon paid off as he opened the season with consecutive podiums and gained the MX2 red-plate for the third round in Maggiora, Italy. Unfortunately, injuries midway through the year hampered his season but a great run at the triple-header in Trentino where he landed on the podium at all three rounds impressed the right people who believed his skill would translate well on a CRF450R. So, for the final triple he moved up to the MXGP class and right away he was challenging the top five positions.

Those results meant that the following year he rode in the MXGP class full-time, and once again, he rode impressively, getting podiums at Latvia and Indonesia. And it was his speed, along with his calm, personable nature which convinced Team HRC to sign him alongside Tim Gajser for the 2023 campaign.

Winning the opening round of the season was certainly the best possible way to repay that faith, taking the victory in Patagonia-Argentina in spectacular fashion. Podiums followed in Spain, Germany and Maggiora, giving him fifth overall in the championship and now he heads into 2024 looking for even more success on what will be a brand new Honda CRF450R.