Fermin Aldeguer misses test and Thai GP: return still uncertain
The 2026 of Fermin Aldeguer is off to an uphill start. The talented young Spaniard will not be at the start of either next week’s official Buriram test or the first Grand Prix of the season, scheduled in Thailand from February 27 to March 1. Making the absence official was Gresini Racing, which confirmed that the rider is continuing on the road to recovery after a femur fracture suffered during winter training.
The injury dates back to last January, when Aldeguer crashed during a training session at the Aspar Circuit in Spain, sustaining a fracture of the diaphysis of his left femur. An incident that effectively ended his off-season early and necessitated surgery. Since then, work has focused exclusively on rehabilitation, approached with determination and perseverance, but the time is not yet ripe for a return to the track.
The 20-year-old Spaniard has already had to miss the BK8 Gresini team presentation in Kuala Lumpur and the first MotoGP 2026 test in Sepang. Hopes of seeing him at the start of the inaugural round in Thailand were slim to none, and as the weeks passed it became clear that the priority remains a full recovery, with no forcing.
From the team they let it be known that recovery is progressing quickly, but not enough to allow a presence in Thailand. The goal is to return for the second seasonal appointment, in Brazil from March 20 to 22, although at the moment there is no certainty about the actual time of return.
Replacing Aldeguer in the Buriram tests and the opening race will be Michele Pirro, an experienced test rider called to take his place in the saddle for the start of the championship. Aldeguer himself, while not getting out of line, reiterated his desire to return as soon as possible: “When will I be back? I hope as soon as possible, but for now I cannot say a specific date, a sure race.”
For the rookie of the year 2025, therefore, it is an uphill start to the season. Even before thinking about results and adapting to the new championship, the priority remains one: to recover fully and get back on track in the best possible condition.
