Injured, Fermín Aldeguer will be replaced at Gresini for the Thai GP

Still suffering from a femur injury, Fermín Aldeguer will miss the next official tests in MotoGPIn addition to the pre-season tests in Buriram (Thailand), the Spaniard will have to miss the opening round of the 2026 season, scheduled for about ten days later on the same circuit.

As a reminder, in mid-January, the Spaniard – who was fine-tuning his preparation on a Ducati at the Aspar circuit in Valencia – suffered a heavy crash. He fractured his left femur and underwent surgery in Barcelona, ​​Spain. However, his recovery is taking longer than expected, forcing him to officially announce his absence from the upcoming races.

Number 54 will be replaced by Ducati test rider Michele Pirro. The Italian was already expected in Thailand for winter testing. Nicolò Bulega, who had stepped in for Borgo Panigale to cover for Marc Márquez's absence during the last two rounds of the 2025 season, was unable to take over. The favorite for the Superbike World Championship title, he will open his season in Australia on the same dates.

The lessons learned from the early returns of Marc Márquez and Jorge Martín – both marked by relapses – are undoubtedly prompting Fermín Aldeguer to prioritize a full rehabilitation rather than a hasty comeback. His return for the Brazilian Grand Prix (March 22), the second round of the MotoGP season, remains uncertain.

Winner of the last Indonesian GP, ​​Fermín Aldeguer shone as a rookie during the 2025 season, with three podium finishes (Le Mans, Spielberg, Mandalika). Signed by Ducati from the winter of 2024, the Spaniard hoped to confirm his potential to secure official equipment in the short term, while the Gresini factory bike was entrusted this year to his teammate Álex Márquez.

While his place on the future starting grid is far from being in jeopardy, this absence complicates matters. Without winter testing, Aldeguer loses valuable time during a period when the driver market for 2027 is already bustling.

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