Marco Bezzecchi
Francesco Bagnaia is yet to show any resurgence of a return to full form in the 2026 MotoGP season, with his latest performance at the Brazilian Grand Prix being labelled as “embarrassing” by Gavin Emmett as the Italian languished behind Fermin Aldeguer.
After securing a handful of points during the season-opener, Francesco Bagnaia failed to make his mark on the 2026 MotoGP championship standings after falling off his Ducati GP26 and out of the Brazilian Grand Prix.
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The crash marked Bagnaia’s second off of the weekend, with a crash in Q2 hindering his chances of securing a good start for the ensuing Sprint race and Grand Prix. Sylvain Guintoli saw some positives from the crash, but there was nothing positive about his ride on Sunday.
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Gavin Emmett slams Francesco Bagnaia for his ’embarrassing’ performance at Brazilian GP
During TNT Sports’ live coverage of the Brazilian Grand Prix, commentators Gavin Emmett and Neil Hodgson drew attention to Bagnaia’s poor performance prior to his retirement from the race.
The factory Ducati star was sitting in P11 at the time, behind Gresini’s Fermin Aldeguer, who was marking his return to MotoGP after a two-month-long stint on the sidelines through injury.
Emmett couldn’t hide his dismay regarding Bagnaia’s performance in Goiania, telling Hodgson, “Fermin Aldeguer in tenth, two months after breaking his leg, his femur, incredible. Pecco Bagnaia behind him in 11th, over a second behind him. That is embarrassing.”
Hodgson then recounted Aldeguer’s recovery journey over the last few weeks, highlighting how “impressive” his performance was up to that point in the Grand Prix.
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He added, “The last time Fermin Aldeguer rode a MotoGP bike was in Valencia. Obviously, he then broke his leg in January and missed all the tests.
“He turned up here, and I thought it was almost going to be a waste of time. It’ll be a bit of physio, a little bit of riding. It’s been anything but that. It’s so impressive.
- READ MORE: Francesco Bagnaia rubbishes Valentino Rossi’s claim that his Ducati woes are because of Marc Marquez
Fermin Aldeguer secured his first points of the season after an impressive ride in Brazil
Nothing can be taken away from Aldeguer for his fine performance in Goiania on Sunday, especially considering the condition that the Spaniard is still in following his injury at the start of the year.
The Spaniard remained on crutches for the entirety of the weekend, only relinquishing them when they were swapped for his Ducati prototype.
It was a fine return to the premier class for the 20-year-old, who still needs to showcase his talents in order to secure a spot on the 2027 MotoGP grid.
Aldeguer was recently handed an extension to his deal with Ducati, and rumours have linked the young Murcian with a switch to Valentino Rossi’s VR46 outfit for the new era of regulations.
VR46 were reportedly promised a ‘top rider’ from the bosses at Borgo Panigale, and Aldeguer certainly fits that criteria.
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