Former MotoAmerica Mission Mini Cup and Junior Cup rider Jayden Fernandez had a chance to clinch the 2025 CIV (Italian National Championship) Aprilia RS 660 Trophy Champiopship this past weekend at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari (Imola Circuit), and his solid results put him ever-so-close to his ultimate goal.
Fernandez, who competes for Team MMR, took full advantage of perfect weather conditions and, despite visiting Imola for the very first time, he put together a weekend to remember at a racetrack universally regarded as one of the most difficult to master on a motorcycle. The Coloradan adapted quickly to the circuit, and he qualified third-fastest, securing a front-row start for both of the weekend’s races.
In Saturday’s Race 1, a lightning-quick launch put Fernandez in the lead on the opening lap. A three-rider group formed at the front, which included Fernandez and his two Team MMR Italian teammates Thomas Benetti and Mattei Alessio, and the trio traded blows until an error by Benetti dropped him out of contention with five laps to go. Fernandez and Italian Alessio then ran a relentless pace to the finish line, with Fernandez finishing in the runner-up position after a hard, clean fight with Alessio for the win.
On Sunday, in Race 2, Fernandez once again got the holeshot, while his teammate Alessio’s slow start left him back in sixth place. Fernandez and Benetti then broke away and ran laps in the low 1:59s to open up a gap at the front. The pace picked up significantly at around the midpoint of the race, and both Fernandez and Benetti set their fastest laps of the weekend. Fernandez controlled the race until the final lap when Benetti overtook him. Fernandez tried to retake the lead in the final chicane, but he couldn’t quite make it stick, so he settled for another runner-up result.
“It was a very positive weekend, and I’m happy with my performances—especially because I gained a few more points on my main rival,” Fernandez said. “I arrive at Mugello ready to manage the 12-point lead, but I won’t change my approach. No ‘cruising’—I’ll keep building the weekend step by step with the goal to improve and be the fastest every time I go out.
Big thanks to my parents for their incredible support, to my sister Juliana, and to the whole Team MMR for the great work we did together.”
As Fernandez alluded to, he now leads the 2025 Aprilia RS 660 Trophy Championship by 12 points over teammate Alessio. The title will be decided at the Mugello finale on October 4 through 5.
