When the engines start to howl and the world falls away, there is one last piece of theater on the MotoGP grid. Paul Trevathan, the veteran KTM crew chief, leans into the helmet of the “Tiburon” himself, Pedro Acosta.
Acosta: Stone-faced. Trevathan: Intense. The world: Wondering what the hell they’re talking about.
The Checklist of Chaos
Forget motivational speeches about “giving 110%.” This is high-stakes engineering. Trevathan revealed to Crash.net that the ritual is a surgical strike of information.
- The Technical Recap: Reconfirming the race plan and mid-race adjustments.
- The Procedure: Running through the start-line sequence like a pilot before takeoff.
- The “I Got You”: Reminding a 21-year-old phenom that he isn’t solo in the shark tank.
“It’s showing I’m there for him; he’s not alone,” Trevathan says. “People forget that it’s a bloody tough sport out there.”
2025: From Frustration to Fire
Whatever Trevathan is whispering, it’s working. Acosta turned a rocky start to the 2025 season into a scorched-earth campaign in the second half.
- 12 Podiums
- 4th Overall in the World Championship
- 100% Lethal —
The Contrast: Nervous Energy vs. Cold Focus
While Trevathan is the steady hand, over in the Repsol Honda box, things are a bit… twitchier. Joan Mir admits his crew chief, the legendary Santi Hernandez, is often the one biting his nails.
“He’s more nervous than me!” Mir joked. While Trevathan and Acosta are vibing on a spiritual level, Mir and Hernandez are playing the numbers game: checking tire choices and last-second wind shifts.
Different strokes for different blokes, but on the MotoGP grid, the last person you hear before the lights go out is the person who spent all night fixing your bike.
The Nerve-Center: Why Joan Mir Thinks His Crew Chief is More Stressed Than Him!
If you think the rider is the most stressed person on the MotoGP grid, Joan Mir would like a word.
While Mir sits on his Repsol Honda trying to find his “Zen” before hurtling into Turn 1 at 200mph, his crew chief—the legendary Santi Hernandez—is often seen vibrating with enough nervous energy to power a small city.
“He’s More Nervous Than Me!”
Mir let the cat out of the bag to Crash.net, revealing that the dynamic between a world champion and a master mechanic is often a role reversal of calm and chaos.
- The Santi Style: Known for his fiery passion (honed over years of winning titles with Marc Marquez), Hernandez doesn’t just “talk” to his rider; he lives every second of the race before it even starts.
- The Content: While others might be soul-searching, Mir and Hernandez are playing Tire Tetris. They’re scanning the grid, checking what the competition is wearing, and making split-second calls on last-minute setup tweaks.
The Art of the Grid Chat
Every rider-chief duo has a “vibe.” For some, it’s a silent nod. For Mir and Hernandez, it’s a high-speed data download mixed with a bit of adrenaline-fueled anxiety.
“Normally, we don’t speak so much on the grid because we speak before,” Mir explained. “But with Santi, it’s about any last-minute changes.”
Why it Matters
In a sport where championships are won by millimeters, having a crew chief who cares that much is a weapon. Hernandez isn’t just checking bolts; he’s riding the emotional rollercoaster right alongside Mir. Whether it’s a technical reminder or a frantic update on the weather, that “nervous” energy is the fuel that keeps the Repsol Honda garage fighting back toward the front.
Check out the lineup for the 2025 MotoGP “Battle of the Brains.” Every duo has a signature move before the visor goes down—here is how the heavy hitters handle the final countdown.
The 2025 Grid Ritual Comparison Chart
| Rider | Crew Chief | The “Vibe” | The Secret Sauce |
| Pedro Acosta | Paul Trevathan | The Surgical Strike | A rapid-fire technical checklist and a “you’re not alone” whisper. |
| Joan Mir | Santi Hernandez | The High-Voltage Exchange | Chaotic energy! Santi is the “nervous” one; they mostly talk tire strategy. |
| Pecco Bagnaia | Cristian Gabarrini | The Zen Master | Cool, calm, and collected. Focused on “feeling” and extreme technical precision. |
| Jorge Martin | Daniele Romagnoli | The Data Download | Meticulous. They often discuss specific telemetry “science” and turn-by-turn lean angles. |
| Marc Marquez | Marco Rigamonti | The New Chapter | Intense and serious. Marquez is building a new shorthand with the man behind the GP25. |
| Fabio Quartararo | Diego Gubellini | The Deep Bond | Total trust. After years together, it’s about mental state and finding “miracles” on the Yamaha. |
Breakdown of the Rituals
1. Pecco & Gabarrini: The Perfectionists
If Acosta is a shark, Bagnaia is a scientist. Cristian Gabarrini (the man who helped Casey Stoner win) treats Pecco like a precision instrument. Their grid chats are famously quiet. Gabarrini has noted that Pecco is “extremely sensitive” to changes in aerodynamics and chassis—so their last-minute talk is likely about the microscopic “feel” of the bike.
2. Jorge Martin & Romagnoli: The Scientists
For the “Martinator,” it’s all about the numbers. Daniele Romagnoli revealed that their success comes from treating telemetry as a science. On the grid, they aren’t just talking motivation; they’re discussing exactly how many degrees to lean in Turn 16 based on the morning’s data.
3. Marc Marquez & Rigamonti: The New Era
After a decade with Santi Hernandez, Marc is now working with Marco Rigamonti in the factory Ducati box. This is a “no-nonsense” ritual. Marquez is known for his “killer instinct,” and Rigamonti’s job is to provide the stable, factory-grade reassurance that the #93 needs to go nuclear.
4. Fabio & Gubellini: The Long-Distance Relationship
These two have been together since Fabio’s 2019 debut. Their grid ritual is less about “what” and more about “how.” In the struggling Yamaha era, Gubellini acts as the emotional anchor, keeping Fabio’s head in the game even when the hardware is underpowered.
Sources & Exclusives
- Acosta’s Grid Ritual (Crash.net): Inside Pedro Acosta’s MotoGP grid ritual with Paul Trevathan
- Acosta’s Season Turnaround (Crash.net): From “Lost the Plot” to “Riding Beautifully” – The 2025 Reset
- Full 2025 Crew Chief List (The Race): Who are the 2025 MotoGP riders’ crew chiefs?
- Official 2025 Standings (MotoGP.com): Final 2025 World Championship Standings
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