Marco Bezzecchi
Gresini star Fermin Aldeguer admits the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix will be a “test” for him, as he gets back on a MotoGP bike for the first time since he fractured his femur.
Aldeguer has made the trip to Goiania this week to make his return from injury sooner than he had initially expected. The 20-year-old had initially earmarked the Qatar Grand Prix as an opportunity to make his first appearance of 2026, while the race was due to be held in April.
Gresini were without Aldeguer throughout pre-season testing and the first round of the 2026 MotoGP season in Thailand after he needed surgery in January. The Spaniard fractured the shaft of his left femur after crashing while training with road bikes at Valencia’s Aspar Circuit.
Aldeguer quickly ruled himself out of the Thailand Grand Prix, but Gresini were hopeful that the Murcian could utilise the three-week break before the Brazilian GP to make his return in Goiania. And after Aldeguer had a positive private test at the Yepes Circuit, he has returned.
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Fermin Aldeguer must ‘take it easy’ at the Brazilian Grand Prix as his leg is not at ‘100%’
Aldeguer accepts that he will need to “take it easy” at the Brazilian GP this week, given that he has not yet ridden the Ducati Desmosedici GP25 that he will race on this season. He also admits that he might not be “100%” fit until the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez on April 24-26.
READ MORE: All you need to know about the Brazilian Grand Prix, including Goiania stats
MotoGP delaying the Qatar GP until November has given Aldeguer a wider window to build fitness in his left leg, which the one-time Grand Prix winner needs as he also admits that he is “worse at walking” than he is on any bike ahead of making his return from injury in Brazil.
Aldeguer shared, via Motorsport.com: “Given the state of the bone and how I broke it, we were hoping to return in Qatar. But after about four weeks of recovery, I thought making it to Brazil was possible.
“This is a good opportunity because it’s a new circuit for all the drivers. I don’t have the experience from testing, and I’ll have to take it easy. The cancellation of Qatar will help me recover better and arrive in Jerez at 100%.
“Knowing my fitness level is complicated. I’m worse at walking than on the bike. I tried a Panigale, but I have to get on a MotoGP bike, which is heavier and faster.
“This race is a test for me, but obviously I want to finish as high up as possible. And if I can finish in the top 10, even better.”
READ MORE: Experts predict the Brazilian GP, including whether Marc Marquez can win
What’s your podium prediction for the Brazilian Grand Prix?
Aldeguer finished the 2025 season on a high, as the Gresini racer wrapped up the Rookie of the Year award and secured his maiden premier class Grand Prix win in Indonesia. But 2026 started on a very sombre note, as he fractured his femur while training at the Aspar Circuit.
Now, Aldeguer arrives at MotoGP’s first Brazilian GP since 1992 not fully sure about what he can expect at his first race aboard the Ducati GP25. But every second that he spends on the track in Goiania will help Aldeguer build his fitness and see how much his leg can withstand.
With MotoGP also going straight to the Americas Grand Prix at COTA next week, returning at the Brazilian GP can offer Aldeguer a better chance to perform in Texas even if Goiania turns out to just be a test. He has already missed one race, and will not want to waste many more.
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