Fermin Aldeguer has now changed his mind about Valentino Rossi’s offer to join VR46 in 2024

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Fermin Aldeguer has been the most impressive rookie of the current MotoGP season, and has now changed his mind regarding the offer made by Valentino Rossi to make the step up from Moto2 with VR46 in 2023.

Aldeguer ended up rejecting the advances from VR46 and previously revealed his frustrations over missing out on an opportunity to move up to the premier class. The Murcian native wasn’t guaranteed to be in with a chance again.

However, after another impressive season atop a Boscoscuro during the 2024 Moto2 campaign, brands came calling.

Aldeguer was able to secure a contract with the Ducati factory team that would see him race for Gresini in 2025 and receive more benefits from the Borgo Panigale-based outfit in the future.

One of those benefits was a factory spec bike for his second season in the category. Despite this, Ducati backed out of the commitment in favour of Alex Marquez, who will receive a GP26 next season due to his impressive rides atop the GP24 in the current campaign.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Fermin Aldeguer with his rise to MotoGP and height

Fermin Aldeguer admits that waiting for a factory Ducati offer for 2025 was ‘the right choice’

After previously voicing his frustrations at missing out on the premier class for the 2024 season, the 20-year-old now recognises that he made “the right choice” by listening to Ducati and spending another season in the intermediate class.

Speaking to Moto.it, Aldeguer was asked about whether he had any discussions with VR46 team owner Valentino Rossi, to which he replied, “No, we talked to Uccio [Salucci] and Pablo [Nieto] and we were close, honestly.

“But for me, we made the right choice in waiting, because I gained an extra year of experience, which wasn’t easy, and I learned a lot, and I arrived much more ready, more mature.

“I think it helped me, plus I signed a contract with an official Ducati, not just with the team.”

Aldeguer’s move to the Faenza-based team ahead of the 2025 campaign saw him step into the shoes of Marc Marquez as he departed for the factory squad.

His crew chief, Frankie Carchedi, compared the data between Aldeguer and Marquez upon his arrival at Gresini, noting how similar the young rider is to Marquez during his tenure at the team.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Gresini from the MotoGP team’s riders to hierarchy

Fermin Aldeguer has been hailed as the ‘future of Ducati’ by key figures within the factory team

Aldeguer’s fine form in his rookie MotoGP campaign has been highlighted by his podium finishes at the French GP in May and the Austrian GP in August.

At the latter, the Murcian rider finished just over a second behind the high-flying Marquez in a performance that Casey Stoner hailed as the best of the season so far.

Luigi Dall’Igna believes Aldeguer is the future of Ducati, evident in the team’s decision to hand the rider a factory contract before he had even proved that he had what it takes to compete with the best riders in the premier class of Grand Prix motorcycle racing.

Despite missing out on the chance to ride atop factory machinery in 2025, Ducati offered the 20-year-old a number of different concessions that will benefit his long-term MotoGP career to keep themselves on the right side of Aldeguer once they decide that he is ready for the factory ride.