Fermin Aldeguer enters MotoGP as fifth in the Moto2 World Championship. Much depends on the performance of the young Spaniard. If Aldeguer delivers – Gresini Racing can finally get the latest products.
The next Spanish shot for MotoGP has the starting number 54 and is called Fermin Aldeguer. The Spaniard was already praised for a heavenly run a year ago. In fact, Aldeguer had secured his first-class ticket with a streak of four wins in the final race of the 2023 season, which is quite remarkable in Moto2.
Still unaware that Ducati would be represented by two bikes down at the end of the 2024 season, Ducati Corse management pounced on him and proudly introduced the youngster as the man of the future at the start of the year.
However, the expected success in his final year of Moto2 did not materialize. Against tough competition, Fermin Aldeguer made a temporary comeback to 6th place at the World Championship. Despite the highlights – Aldeguer won three races – #54 did not finish better than 5th place. The fate of advancing to MotoGP as world champion was not fulfilled, thanks to several exits.
The Aldeguer team’s new home is also well-known for its waterfalls. Gresini Racing and the Marquez brothers were already above average in accident statistics in 2024. As is known, the star of the team clears the way for the young man used by Ducati-Corse as consolation. Gresini, the third best team in the field thanks to Marc Marquez, had to abandon the hopefuls. What is certain is that Fermin Aldeguer will not be able to fill the shoes of his predecessor immediately.
Aldeguer himself is clearly more relaxed about his replacement as a result. The 19-year-old said: “Marc has achieved the greatest human success in MotoGP, he plays in a different league and I don’t need to compare myself to him. That’s why I can stay calm and focus on what I’m doing.”
Aldeguer continued: “I have to look at Ducati, I want to learn from them – and then there is Alex (Marquez). These are my marks.”
The player will also keep a close eye on his new teammates Ai Ogura and Somkiat Chantra. The Thai, who did worse than Aldeguer in the Moto2 World Championship (12th in the World Championship), is sitting on a trick Honda and therefore does not appear to be a major threat.
Things are different for world champion Ai Ogura. He receives the current factory materials from Aprilia. With Davide Brivio, the Japanese also has the world champion in the trackhouse team as a strong supporter in the box. Although Pedro Acosta was unopposed among foreigners as a soloist in 2024, the next Spaniard is likely to face at least one strong opponent in the ranks of singers.
But Aldeguer doesn’t have to hide at all. As the pilot of the 2024 Desmosedici, he sits on the main equipment of last season. The performance in the premiere season is very important for the three newcomers. According to the special negotiation contract with the employer Ducati Corse, the end of the year results determine the allocation of current factory resources. If Aldeguer ignites a performance rocket in the style of Pedro Acosta, then the Spaniard will be the long-awaited key to Ducati’s rise to the top.
Meanwhile, the pilot tests in Barcelona still did not deliver the basic message. After all, Aldeguer, also slightly injured, was the fastest newcomer at first contact and, 1.7 seconds behind the best time, was on par with Ducati test rider Michele Pirro in GP25.
Since everyone in the paddock knows that the toughest opponent is always your teammate, it was perhaps no surprise that Alex Marquez, of all people, did the boss’s job with the fastest time on test day in Barcelona.
Results of the MotoGP test in Barcelona (November 19):
1. Alex Márquez (E), Ducati, 1:38,803 minutes
2. Fabio Quartararo (F), Yamaha, +0.396 sec
3. Francesco Bagnaia (I), Ducati, +0.595
4. Marc Márquez (E), Ducati, +0.651
5. Raúl Fernandez (E), Aprilia, +0,668
6. Brad Binder (ZA), KTM, +0.705
7. Franco Morbidelli (I), Ducati, +0.762
8. Alex Rins (E), Yamaha, +0,765
9. Pedro Acosta (L), KTM, +0.768
10. Johann Zarco (F), Honda, +0.813
11. Jorge Martín (E), Aprilia, +1,056
12. Maverick Viñales (E), KTM, +1.084
13. Marco Bezzecchi (I), Aprilia, +1.192
14. Aleix Espargaró (E), Honda, +1,204
15. Joan Mir (E), Honda, +1,267
16. Enea Bastianini (I), KTM, +1,279
17. Miguel Oliveira (P), Yamaha, +1,335
18. Luca Marini (I), Honda, +1.429
19. Michele Pirro (I), Ducati, +1.683
20. Fermin Aldeguer (E), Ducati, +1,761
21. Ai Ogura (J), Aprilia, +2,143
22. Jack Miller (AUS), Yamaha, +2,222
23. Somkiat Chantra (TH), Honda, +2,492
24. Lorenzo Savadori (I), Aprilia, +8,793
