Marco Bezzecchi
Fermin Aldeguer’s preparations for the 2026 MotoGP season have suffered a big blow, after the Gresini rider required surgery after fracturing his femur after a training crash.
The 20-year-old joined a few of his fellow factory-contracted Ducati riders for a private test with road bikes at the Aspar Circuit in Valencia on January 8. The test was arranged for Marc Marquez to make his return from a shoulder injury, after he needed an operation in October.
Aldeguer underwent a successful operation on his left femur in Barcelona on January 9, but Gresini have not set an official timeline for his return to action. The Spaniard is expected to sit out pre-season testing in February, and his involvement at the first race is even in doubt.
Reports have also suggested that Aldeguer may not return from injury until the Qatar Grand Prix on April 10-12, which has also seen Ducati remove the Murcian from their rider shortlist for 2027. A return in Lusail would see Aldeguer miss the first three races of the 2026 season.
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Aitor Tomas, who is the personal physio to Gresini star Aldeguer, KTM rider Pedro Acota and Aprilia pilot Jorge Martin, does not rule out the 2025 MotoGP Rookie of the Year taking part in the 2026 season-opening Thai Grand Prix. Buriram will hold the opening race on March 1.
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But Tomas fears it will be “impossible” for Aldeguer to return from injury in time to take part in pre-season testing at Sepang on February 3-5 or Buriram on February 21-22. Tomas adds that Aldeguer suffered a “more complex” fracture to his femur than Acosta did in June 2022.
“It is impossible for him to arrive in the pre-season, and we will fight for it to be in the first MotoGP race,” Tomas told L’esportiu de Catalunya.
“Another of my riders, Pedro Acosta, had a very similar injury, also fracturing his femur. In 15 days, he was already on the bike. Does that mean that Fermin will do the same?
“No, because even if it was exactly the same injury, with the same elements and the same environment, each body reacts differently. In addition, Aldeguer’s is a little more complex.”
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Acosta missed seven weeks due to his fractured femur in 2022 after he, like Aldeguer has in 2025, crashed while training. Acosta suffered his injury during his first season in Moto2, but he only sat out the 2022 Dutch and British Grands Prix on either side of the summer break.
A seven week recovery timeline since Aldeguer underwent his surgery would put his return date at February 28, which is the day of qualifying for the 2026 season-opening Thai Grand Prix. Aldeguer would likely look to take part in practice at Buriram to see how his leg copes.
Aldeguer is not the only rider currently facing a race against time to take part in pre-season testing for the 2026 season, as well. Aprilia pilot Martin will travel to Sepang after requiring two operations in December to address two injuries he sustained during the 2025 season.
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