Yamaha has confirmed the signing of Spanish MXGP contender Rubén Fernández for the 2027 FIM Motocross World Championship, with the 27-year-old set to join five-time world champion Tim Gajser aboard a factory YZ450FM.
The move marks a return to Yamaha for Fernández, who will leave his current team after several seasons to take on a new challenge alongside one of the most successful riders in modern motocross.
Fernández has established himself as a regular MXGP front-runner, claiming his maiden Grand Prix victory in 2023 and finishing fifth in the world championship that season.
He improved to fourth overall in 2025 and will now be looking to turn his race-winning speed into a consistent challenge for the MXGP world title.
The signing also comes as Yamaha prepares for a major restructuring of its factory motocross programme, moving to a centralised, fully in-house operation at its racing headquarters in Gerno di Lesmo, Italy.
The new facility will bring Yamaha’s MXGP programme under the same roof as its MotoGP and WorldSBK operations, giving the motocross team access to the manufacturer’s wider engineering and technical resources.
Yamaha Motor Europe Off-Road Racing Manager Alexandre Kowalski believes Fernández will be an important addition as the manufacturer enters its new era.
“We are delighted to welcome Rubén back to the Yamaha family. As a Grand Prix winner and proven front-runner, his speed and professionalism will be a major asset to our factory programme,” Kowalski said.
“His arrival coincides with a new era for Yamaha as we transition to a fully in-house operation. Based at our new headquarters in Gerno di Lesmo, our MXGP team will now benefit from the same advanced engineering and technical expertise as our MotoGP and WorldSBK projects.”
For Fernández, the move represents a significant change after spending years working with the same team and machinery.
“I’m excited for the next chapter of my career and the new environment. After spending so many years with the same team, the same people, and the same bike, I’m really looking forward to this change,” Fernández said.
“Everything is new—the people, the bike, the team —and I’m looking forward to the new challenge, it is really motivating. I feel this change is exactly what I need to move forward and to take the next step in my career.”
The Spaniard has yet to test the factory YZ450FM but says his previous experience with Yamaha machinery gives him confidence heading into the switch.
“I’ve been with Yamaha in the past; I remember really liking the chassis and the way it handled. While I know the YZ450F is different from the YZ250F, and the bikes have developed over the years, I’m positive I can make the most of this opportunity,” he said.
With Fernández joining Gajser and Yamaha bringing its factory programme in-house, the manufacturer will enter the 2027 MXGP season with two proven Grand Prix winners and a significantly restructured racing operation.
