Fermin Aldeguer: Factory Ducati snub "difficult" to accept but "it's not my moment yet"
Fermin Aldeguer admits it’s “difficult” to accept Ducati’s decision to keep him on a satellite bike in MotoGP 2026, but concedes that it’s ‘not his moment yet’ to move to factory machinery.
Aldeguer signed a deal directly with Ducati to join Gresini this year, with the promise of getting full equipment for his second season in MotoGP.
However, the Spaniard will not get the latest Desmosedici from Borgo Panigale after all, with team-mate Alex Marquez instead getting the additional GP26 that Ducati is building for next year.
In 2024, having a full-works bike proved crucial, as Ducati made a massive leap with the introduction of the GP24. This year, however, the gap between Ducati’s 2024-spec and its new GP25 has been minimal, with both Aldeguer and Marquez able to win on the older model.
The 2026 season will be the last under the current rule cycle, limiting development opportunities, while Ducati will also not be allowed to introduce a new power unit due to the ongoing engine freeze.
Aldeguer conceded there’s some disappointment about the decision, but equally, he understands why Ducati doesn’t want to give him a factory bike so soon.
“Difficult – it’s difficult [to accept] because at this moment we are very competitive, we are fast,” he told Motorsport.com.
“For sure, I need some more things from the bike because the official bike is always a little bit better.
“But the reality is that it’s my second year [and] I think the GP25 will be a very good bike.
“I have the support of Ducati. It’s not a problem for me not to have the official bike, but we are fighting for the future.
“Maybe it’s not my moment to use this bike, but we will see. If we have a good season next year, maybe in 2027 we are in the red team.”
Fermin Aldeguer, Gresini Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Aldeguer has already sealed the rookie of the year title and sits eighth in the overall standings with two rounds remaining.
The 20-year-old clinched his maiden victory in Indonesia at the beginning of October and was also on the podium in France and Austria earlier this year.
Expectations from Aldeguer were high even before his debut, with Ducati having signed him to a MotoGP contract before he even began his 2024 Moto2 campaign.
Ducati’s management is understood to be happy with how he has fared in his rookie season, particularly with his late-race pace and tyre management skills. Qualifying, however, remains an area for improvement as Aldeguer has started inside the front two rows only five times across the first 20 race weekends.
Speaking about his goals for 2026, Aldeguer said he wants to simply build on his first year in MotoGP and aim for more consistency, instead of putting too much pressure on himself to deliver results.
“I don’t want to put a lot of pressure on myself for next season,” he said. “I will just try to enjoy, try to be fast, to have the speed, and be competitive.
“After this first season, for sure, my goal is to stay in the top five and to do more podiums, fight for more victories. But we have to start with calm, with a good mentality, don’t put a lot of pressure, and [take things] step by step.”
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