Marco Bezzecchi
Fermin Aldeguer is succeeding Marc Marquez at Gresini this year. That would be a daunting task for any rider on the grid, but Aldeguer is entering the championship as a rookie.
Marquez made a shock move to Gresini in 2024 after losing his faith in Honda. His goal was to earn a spot in the factory Ducati team.
And the Spaniard was so impressive on year-old satellite machinery that he edged out the eventual world champion Jorge Martin for the seat alongside Francesco Bagnaia. Marquez won three Grands Prix and one Sprint last year, finishing third in the standings on nearly 400 points.
His exit left a vacancy next to his brother Alex, and Ducati have turned to Aldeguer to fill it. Aldeguer placed fifth in Moto2 last season, his third year as a full-time rider in the intermediate class.
After finishing third in 2023, he was eyeing the title. However, while he scored three victories and five podiums, he also failed to score on seven occasions.
Aldeguer is one of three rookies entering MotoGP this season. With Ai Ogura riding for Trackhouse and Somkiat Chantra slotting in at LCR, he’s well-placed to win the best newcomer award.
Fermin Aldeguer has discussed MotoGP tyre management with Marc Marquez
Aldeguer finished the first pre-season test in Malaysia 11th fastest after the time-attack runs on the final day. He dropped to 18th at the same stage of the Buriram Test, but that won’t be a concern for Nadia Padovani at this stage.
His fellow GP24 riders Franco Morbidelli and Alex Marquez will be immediately targeting victories and podiums, particularly after the works Ducati team decided to stick with large parts of last year’s motorcycle. As a rookie, the objectives are different for Aldeguer, who will be managed carefully and given time to adapt.
Speaking to GPOne, the 19-year-old revealed that he’d spoken to Marquez Sr ahead of his debut season. The six-time MotoGP champion has advised him on the best riding styles for the Ducati bike.
He’s also explained how best to manage the tricky and unfamiliar Michelin rubber. But Aldeguer is aware that it’s one thing to listen to his advice, and another to implement it.
“I talked with Marc about everything from riding styles to tyres,” he said. “We can talk, but in the end, I have to put into practice what we said to each other on the track.”
Gresini engineers told Fermin Aldeguer to work on one thing before Thailand Grand Prix
Ducati instructed the GP24 riders to test their 2025 engine in Sepang, it has emerged. They kept this secret, but it helped them decide on a motor for the upcoming campaign.
Naturally, they would have leaned most on the advice of Morbidelli, who rode an up-to-date bike last year. For Aldeguer, this may have been an unwanted, albeit necessary, distraction.
Speaking before testing, Aldeguer said he needed to improve with the rear brake. It seems his new Gresini colleagues identified it as a potential weakness.
The team has grown in stature and commercial appeal after its brief partnership with Marquez. They still possess one of the greatest MotoGP machines ever, so they should be able to score more headline results this term.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
