Marco Bezzecchi
Fermin Aldeguer showed flashes of promise as a rookie, but knows he must master the Michelin tyre and be more consistent in 2026.
The Spaniard was at his quickest in 2025 when an alternative set of rubber (the MotoGPTM tyre) was brought to cope with different scenarios – in Austria and Indonesia, for example.
But that’s not the resource he gets to use every weekend. Gresini has to find a way to help him be quicker and more consistent over the next 12 months, before Pirelli arrives to replace Michelin.
Aldeguer has to prove to Ducati that he is developing, which will demand an improvement in results this year. If he fails to do that, his case for a factory seat in the future will be weakened.
Fill in the blank: Fermin Aldeguer will win ___ MotoGP titles in his career.
Frankie Carchedi knows where Aldeguer is better than Marc Marquez, having worked with both of them over the last two years. He’s one of the best engineers in the game.
Aldeguer knows Ducati will send him home if he fails to deliver on track. It means that for now, he’s under constant pressure until he finds a way to secure his long-term future.
READ MORE: Fermin Aldeguer outlines what he’s learned from racing Marc Marquez and Alex Marquez in 2025
Fermin Aldeguer could see dream Ducati move blocked if they make a superstar signing
Aldeguer thinks Aprilia can beat Ducati, and he’s going to be one of the most important ingredients in preventing them from doing so this season.
Now that he isn’t a rookie anymore, he’ll be expected to slash his errors and apply some more pressure to the likes of Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin.
Aldeguer wants a factory bike for 2027, and isn’t necessarily worried about having a factory seat, but Luigi Dall’Igna has long since been keen to get him in one.
The problem? Ducati are likely to retain at least one of their riders heading into the new regulations, leaving just one opening.
If they opt to make a superstar signing like Pedro Acosta or Fabio Quartararo, it’ll be virtually impossible to see them having any rides available before 2029.
It makes his factory bike demand all the more important, but also means he might already be resigned to not having a chance at the factory Ducati team until 2029.
READ MORE: Fermin Aldeguer told why he needs to be more like Pedro Acosta to become MotoGP champion
Why Ducati would be wise to leave Fermin Aldeguer at Gresini for a few more years
Handing Aldeguer a factory seat after just two seasons would be a bit of a short-sighted move by Ducati with so many other attractive options on the market.
They know that almost every rider would take a pay cut to have access to their bike, knowing that it’s the quickest on the grid.
They have the chance to have generational success even after Marc Marquez leaves them by having an Acosta or Quartararo in their ranks.
Rushing Aldeguer’s development and piling on the pressure by promoting him prematurely will only do his career harm. It’s best to do that when he’s definitely ready, if he ever gets to that stage.
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