Marco Bezzecchi
Fermin Aldeguer has grown into his rookie MotoGP season to see the Gresini rider chase podiums, but Alex and Marc Marquez have ‘warned’ him over the next task.
The 20-year-old had a steady initial beginning to his life in the premier class after Ducati put Aldeguer on a Desmosedici GP24 at Gresini for his maiden year. Fellow rookie Ai Ogura stole the headlines in Thailand, but things began to click for Aldeguer when MotoGP visited Texas.
While Aldeguer only qualified P12 for the Americas Grand Prix, the Spaniard found his speed in the race. He pulled off a number of early overtakes and even threatened to earn a maiden podium until the Spaniard crashed on Lap 17/19 shortly after overtaking Jack Miller for fifth.
Only 0.989 seconds even denied him a debut rostrum as Aldeguer got P5 in the Qatar Grand Prix for the Murcia native’s first top-10 finish. His first podium was also on the cards again at Jerez, yet it fell away when Aldeguer crashed on L5/25 of the Spanish Grand Prix while in P4.
Alex and Marc Marquez ‘warned’ Fermin Aldeguer of his challenge to win MotoGP races
Crashes are not the only obstacle that Aldeguer still has to overcome, though, as the Gresini rider continues to learn and feel comfortable aboard a MotoGP bike. He is also trying to find the final few tenths of a second that can be the difference between a great result and a win.
Gresini teammate Alex Marquez and Ducati ace Marc Marquez have also ‘warned’ Aldeguer about the challenge he faces to unlock the last few tenths needed to win MotoGP races. He is also not naïve to the task ahead after taking 25 points in the first five rounds of the term.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Fermin Aldeguer with his rise to MotoGP and height
“The 0.3s barrier to fighting for the win will be a tough wall to break down,” Aldeguer told Motorsport.com. “Alex and Marc already warned me. At first, you’re breaking down walls. First, you go under two seconds, then one [and then] half a second.
“But it gets harder and harder. I think we’ve broken down a lot of walls but there are still quite a few left, which are also the most difficult.”
Fermin Aldeguer is utilising Alex and Marc Marquez’s data, as well as their advice
Aldeguer is utilising his position within the Ducati rider stable on a two-year factory contract to refine the Gresini rookie’s trade, with the Marquez brothers plus Francesco Bagnaia great assets. Both Marquez brothers also now know the feeling of winning Grands Prix in MotoGP.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Gresini from the MotoGP team’s riders to hierarchy
Along with taking on board their direct messages, Aldeguer is using other Ducati riders’ data to improve his braking and cornering abilities. His maiden podium and potentially a race win could follow given the development that the Spaniard has made with the resources on offer.
Tech3 boss Herve Poncharal hails Aldeguer for his ‘stratospheric’ progression, too, having seen him grow into being a podium contender. The Moto2 graduate had only secured P13 in Thailand plus P16 in Argentina before threatening the pace for a top-three finish in America.
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