Bold take: the early 2026 season’s start is already reshaping Fermin Aldeguer’s future in MotoGP. The Gresini rider will miss the opening round as he continues to recover from a leg fracture sustained in January, delaying his return from off-season training.
Aldeguer broke his left femur in a training accident at the start of January, which caused him to skip the first pre-season test in Sepang and placed him on an almost certain path to missing the second test in Buriram and the Thailand Grand Prix at the same venue. With medical and team assessments aligned, Aldeguer and Gresini have acknowledged that making the season opener or even the Buriram test would be highly unlikely. The current plan points toward a comeback around the second round, likely at the Brazilian Grand Prix three weeks after the Thailand opener, though Ducati-backed Gresini has not officially confirmed this timetable.
This setback also robs Aldeguer of a crucial window to influence MotoGP’s 2027 rider market. Ducati, which signs him to ride for Gresini, is believed to be lining up a 2027-28 lineup featuring Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta — a move that could pit Aldeguer against Acosta in future negotiations, given Acosta’s Murcia roots and rising profile.
Even if Aldeguer feels edged out by Acosta in terms of the manufacturer’s long-term plans, there’s a silver lining: his current recovery keeps his mid-term MotoGP future very much intact. Ducati initially signed him on a 2+2 contract, and extending those two optional years for a satellite assignment remains a straightforward, sensible option for a manufacturer building a promising young talent.
In the meantime, Michele Pirro, Ducati’s 39-year-old tester, will fill in for Aldeguer at Buriram. Pirro is set to achieve up to 15 straight seasons with at least one MotoGP start, a remarkable continuity streak. This marks a fresh chapter for Pirro, who has previously ridden for factory teams, Avintia, Pramac, VR46, and the Aruba.it-backed test squad as a wildcard. Interestingly, Pirro also has a history with Gresini, having ridden for them from 2010–2012 across Moto2 and a CRT-class Honda-engined FTR stint.
Would you agree that the delay could ultimately benefit Aldeguer by allowing a safer, longer recovery and a stronger push later in the season, or do you think the lost track time could seriously hinder his momentum and market value? Share your take in the comments.
