How Trackhouse is building a winning mentality in its MotoGP team

Trackhouse wants to instil a winning culture in its burgeoning MotoGP squad while also bringing it closer to its American roots, says team principal Davide Brivio.

Best known for its participation in the NASCAR Cup Series, Trackhouse expanded into MotoGP in 2024 by taking over the erstwhile RNF Racing team.

The North Carolina-based squad proudly showcased its heritage by running a stars-and-stripes livery at the start of its MotoGP journey, while it was also linked with hiring an American rider in 2025.

On track, the team has made clear progress in its second season, with a breakthrough victory at the Australian Grand Prix helping it climb to seventh in the teams’ standings, ahead of Honda.

Brivio, who previously worked with Japanese manufacturers Yamaha and Suzuki, said Trackhouse’s US-based management can make a real difference in shaping the team’s culture and approach.

“When I joined [in February 2024], the team was at the very beginning, even though it was based on what it was [as] the previous team [RNF],” Brivio told Autosport. “What Trackhouse is trying to do is to install a Trackhouse culture, a winning mentality. 

“We are an American team. Still, we want to do more, and more, and more to identify as an American team. 

“We are trying to learn. First of all, Trackhouse is learning how MotoGP is and then we will try to implement our strategy and our ideas into this. It's a work in progress.”

Davide Brivio, Trackhouse Racing Team Manager

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images

Last month’s Phillip Island event marked a landmark moment for Trackhouse as it scored its first-ever MotoGP victory, with Raul Fernandez triumphing on its factory-spec Aprilia RS-GP. It was a historic result for the American outfit, which had never previously finished higher than fifth in a grand prix.

Brivio described the result as a vital confidence boost for the team, as it aims to become a regular frontrunner in the coming years.

“It's been very important for us because at Trackhouse, we are only in our second season,” he said.

“We have a very short history as a team and to be able to already win a race has been a big achievement for us. It makes all of us at Trackhouse proud because Trackhouse is a NASCAR team and it is a MotoGP team. The NASCAR team won six races this year, we won one race. 

“I hope this gives a motivation to Raul, first of all, but also to the team. 

“Of course, it's difficult to win races in MotoGP. But our target should be to be more and more in the front, fighting with the top group - and if there is an opportunity, to take it. 

“But it's important. Maybe this can give us more self-confidence going forward.”

Trackhouse has benefited from a close relationship with Aprilia, which has established itself as the second-best manufacturer in MotoGP this year.

At the start of the 2024 season, only Miguel Oliveira had access to the full factory-spec RS-GP, while Fernandez received the upgrade midway through the campaign. For 2025, both Fernandez and new team-mate Ai Ogura had the latest factory equipment from the outset.

“We're working with Aprilia and we are quite happy about the relationship,” said Brivio. “We all have factory material and factory equipment. And especially this year, we have exactly the same bike as the factory team. 

“It took maybe a few races to get upgraded through the season, but now we have identical material and we are well supported. We have Aprilia engineers working in our garage. “Then there are engineers who go back to the factory between races. 

“We are directly connected with the factory. We have meetings together. Our engineers have meetings together everyday. We're working well. We feel we are a part of Aprilia.”