Marco Bezzecchi
Gresini have confirmed that Fermin Aldeguer has undergone a successful operation on the fractured femur he suffered while training with Ducati’s Marc Marquez in Valencia.
A clutch of factory-contracted Ducati MotoGP riders visited the Aspar Circuit on Thursday to start their preparations for the campaign ahead. The test also marked a return to a track for Marquez after he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in October that required surgery.
Ducati test rider Michele Pirro monitored Marquez during the private test in Valencia, where Gresini pilot Alex Marquez also took to the track on Friday. Thursday’s session was, however, overshadowed by Aldeguer of Gresini having a big crash in which he fractured his left femur.
Who should replace Fermin Aldeguer if he misses 2026 pre-season testing?
Gresini ‘hope’ Fermin Aldeguer returns from injury for the 2026 season-opener at Buriram
Gresini confirmed on Friday evening that Aldeguer had undergone successful surgery on the shaft of his left femur after being transferred to a hospital in Barcelona. The Faenza crew are now determining a timeline for the Spaniard’s return, with pre-season testing starting soon.
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Further updates from Gresini concerning Aldeguer’s recovery are due to follow. But GPOne reports that ‘hope’ is emerging that the 20-year-old will enjoy a ‘quick recovery’ and return for round one of the 2026 MotoGP season at Buriram, with the Thai Grand Prix on March 1.
Aldeguer is expected to miss the first official 2026 MotoGP pre-season test on February 3-5 at Sepang, at a minimum, after his femur surgery. But his involvement in the second test at Buriram on February 21-22 is also in doubt owing to the time required for the bone to heal.
Fermin Aldeguer needs track time to learn the Ducati GP25 he will race in 2026
MotoGP will hold the first official 2026 pre-season test at Sepang following the shakedown test at the home of the Malaysian Grand Prix on January 29-31 for this year’s rookies. The field will then reconvene at Buriram for the second test only a week before the first round.
Aldeguer will hope to be able to return from his injury for at least the Buriram test to get a bit more knowledge riding the Ducati Desmosedici GP25 that he will race during the 2026 season. The Murcian made his debut in MotoGP with Gresini in 2025 using a Ducati GP24.
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Fill in the blank: Fermin Aldeguer will win ___ MotoGP titles in his career.
Ducati placed Aldeguer at Gresini for his MotoGP debut on a two-year factory contract, and also saw him become a Grand Prix winner. Aldeguer scored his first MotoGP race win in the 2025 Indonesian GP, the race in which Marquez suffered his season-ending shoulder injury.
Aldeguer is in contention to get a factory Ducati ride in 2027, as well, so he will not want his femur injury to derail his 2026 season with Gresini. His current contract includes options for Ducati to extend his factory deal for a further two years, giving them control over his future.
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