Marco Bezzecchi
Fermin Aldeguer had the perfect support network around him for his rookie MotoGP season in 2025, as he got to work alongside the Marquez brothers.
The Spaniard partnered with Alex Marquez at Gresini, replacing his brother Marc Marquez, who joined the factory Ducati team. The Borgo Panigale outfit took the pressure off of Aldeguer for his rookie season, but he went on to exceed their expectations.
He finished eighth in the standings, the lowest-ranked Ducati rider, with six podiums across the season, including his maiden win in Indonesia. Aldeguer won the Rookie of the Year award, setting him up for a strong sophomore season in 2026.
Is Fermin Aldeguer a future MotoGP world champion?
The 20-year-old has worked closely with the Marquez brothers throughout the season, closely watching their data. Interestingly, Aldeguer did not find anything ‘stratospheric’ from Marc Marquez’s telemetry, despite him winning 25 races across the year.
Aldeguer finds Alex Marquez more ‘approachable’ than his brother due to his friendly personality. But they both provided valuable experience for the rookie, and he was keen to learn from them.
Fermin Aldeguer was ‘super focused’ on learning from Marc Marquez and Alex Marquez in 2025
Speaking with Crash about his experiences with the Marquez brothers, Aldeguer admitted that he was ‘super focused’ on learning from them and watching them closely during race weekends.
Asked what he had taken on board at Ducati in his maiden MotoGP season, he said: “I’ve learned a lot of things, to be honest, as a rider, and also as a person, because in the MotoGP class everyone is so experienced.
“As a person, in the first part of the season, I learned a lot from being close to Marc and Alex, seeing how they prepare for a race, their mentality. For me, it’s amazing, I’m super focused to see what they do, even what they have for breakfast!
“On the track, the first races were very difficult. But race by race we improved, then when we arrived in the top-five group, they are all super fast and ride in an incredible mode. I learned a lot.”
READ MORE: Everything to know about Fermin Aldeguer with his rise to MotoGP and height
What can Fermin Aldeguer achieve in 2026?
With his rookie year behind him, Aldeguer will be looking to cement himself as a serious contender in MotoGP.
Ducati remain the force of the field, but they are facing competition from their rivals. Aldeguer expects Aprilia to challenge for the title after making strong progress in 2025.
Aldeguer missed out on a factory bike for 2026, with the machine instead going to his Gresini teammate, Alex Marquez. His chance could come in the future, however, with the Spaniard’s contract being directly linked to Ducati.
He has a two-plus-two arrangement with the Borgo Panigale outfit, meaning that they have the option to extend it until 2028 if he performs. But that will put pressure on him to deliver, as Aldeguer knows Ducati could drop him in 2026 if he does not deliver.
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