Marco Bezzecchi
The 2026 MotoGP will feature four factory Ducati bikes next season, and Fermin Aldeguer has explained why he feels like he ‘deserved’ to receive one after Alex Marquez was confirmed to be the man to receive factory support.
Aldeguer has been mightily impressive during his rookie MotoGP campaign, which was topped off by his clinching of the ‘Rookie of the Year’ title at the most recent round of racing in Malaysia.
However, his efforts weren’t enough to secure a factory Ducati bike next year, which has instead gone to his Gresini teammate, Alex Marquez.
Ducati backed out of a commitment to Aldeguer in their decision to reward Marquez with factory support, citing that the youngster would receive ‘compensation’ that is said to benefit him throughout the rest of his career in the premier class.
READ MORE: Every MotoGP rider to win Rookie of the Year as Fermin Aldeguer joins Marc Marquez and Jorge Martin
Fermin Aldeguer believes he ‘deserved’ a factory Ducati bike after Alex Marquez was rewarded with one
Upon news that Marquez would be the recipient of Ducati’s fourth GP26 next season, Aldeguer was highly complimentary of his Gresini teammate’s results that led to his promotion in status.
However, the young Spaniard is still somewhat disappointed about being overlooked, as highlighted in an interview with journalists ahead of the Portuguese Grand Prix this weekend, but is well aware that his time with the Borgo Panigale-based squad will come.
Aldeguer said, via Motorsport.com, “As a rider, it’s frustrating not to have the best Ducati next year. But if they haven’t given it to me, my time will come.
“You have to look on the bright side, because they offer you other things and tell you that your time will come. [It will be] my second year; I don’t have the experience to develop a bike.”
“In part, I deserved the factory Ducati because of my results and because I’ve always delivered and received good feedback. But there’s no need to rush, and I need to keep learning.
“Maybe I’ll feel more comfortable with the GP25 than the GP26. They’re already talking about 2027 and we haven’t even finished 2025.”
READ MORE: Fermin Aldeguer makes ‘100% sure’ claim as he discusses his chances of joining Ducati factory team
Alex Marquez can put up a genuine title fight in the 2026 MotoGP season atop the GP26
With the younger Marquez now being given the exact same machinery as his world-beating older brother, Marc Marquez, for the upcoming term, all eyes are on the Gresini rider to see whether he can mount a serious title fight against him.
Alex secured second place in the standings at the recent Malaysian Grand Prix, and was the only driver on the grid to offer somewhat of a championship challenge against the high-flying factory Ducati man.
Despite this, it became clear at the midpoint of the season that the superiority of the GP25 with the Spaniard on top of it meant that it was all his to lose.
In the end, Marc reigned victorious, and he secured his seventh title in the premier class, as well as his first for the Italian constructor.
Three-time MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo is pessimistic over Alex’s chances of dethroning Marc in 2026, citing that the 29-year-old has no skills in his locker that Marc doesn’t already excel at.
Only time will tell whether the verdict from Marc’s former teammate at the factory Honda team will come to fruition or not.
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