After a Spanish Grand Prix weekend during which Fermin Aldeguer's limp got visibly worse, the Gresini Ducati rider sat out the second half of the MotoGP test at Jerez on Monday.
The 21-year-old's afternoon absence raised concerns that the recovery from his winter road bike testing accident, during which he sustained a fracture above the knee, is not progressing according to plan.
The Spanish rider confirmed to Motorsport.com during the test that these concerns were not misplaced.
"I hope it is simply a matter of the overexertion of the weekend, an excess that has been accumulating," said Aldeguer.
"Tomorrow I am going to have another check to be clearer that everything is in place, to see what they say, and thus rule out any [further] injury.
"I am going to have tests done at home [in Andorra] and I will send them to the surgeon. I just want to [get home] and rest for a couple of days."
Aldeguer has already had surgery on the injury, which took place in Barcelona two days after the accident. His rehabilitation ruled him out of the Thai Grand Prix that kicked off the season, but he returned to action for round two in Brazil last month.
Under the circumstances, the 2025 Indonesian GP winner has generally impressed with his form since the comeback. Last Sunday at Jerez, he finished his home grand prix in ninth place.
But Aldeguer himself said the knock-on effects of the injury absence had been holding him back.
"I am far away [from my best]. The injury has affected me more because of the lack of laps and rhythm than in itself.
"On the bike it is not a problem, although it is true that in the last laps of a race [I feel] more fatigue and pain. But it is not something that is limiting me."
Despite curtailing his test, he suggested that useful work had been done in the morning session.
"We tested things with the settings; a bit of electronics and engine braking to understand which direction we can take. We are suffering this year with this bike in the last part of the braking [area], where it is hard to turn.
"We tested some things that worked and others [that didn't work so well]; we have to keep working."
Later this week, MotoGP 26 will launch on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S and X, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. According to Italian developer Milestone, this year's entry represents the most significant overhaul of the franchise's core in years. The headline change, the new Rider-Based Handling system, flips the fundamental control philosophy on its head: where previous games mapped player input directly to the bike, MotoGP 26 routes it through the rider's body first, shifting weight before the bike responds. It is a subtle but far-reaching change that touches animations, physics feel, and how veterans will need to approach […]
Joan Mir believes Johann Zarco’s performance at the Spanish Grand Prix does not alter Honda’s overall situation in MotoGP, despite the marque securing its best finish of the season.
LCR rider Zarco was able to mix with the Ducatis and Aprilias for much of Sunday’s race at Jerez, consolidating fifth position after a slow launch from the first row.
A late drop in tyre performance allowed Trackhouse duo Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura to move ahead, but seventh place still marked Honda’s best finish in a Sunday race this year.
It further lent credence to claims that poor one-lap pace is holding back Honda in MotoGP, with the RC213V having again proved competitive in race trim.
However, Mir believes Zarco’s excellent qualifying performance in mixed conditions actually skewed the picture, suggesting the result owed more to track position than outright speed.
“I’m happy for Johann, but we know here that everyone’s pace is very similar,” he said. “If you start up front, you can afford to ease off a bit and still finish in seventh place.
“Someone in front crashed [Marc Marquez], then it’s eighth. Whatever the case, it doesn’t tell me anything I don’t already know about this bike.
Joan Mir, Honda HRC
Joan Mir, Honda HRC
“We start up front, we fall back. If the race is five laps more, he will finish 10th, and if it's 10 laps more, he will finish 15th. And if you try anything else, you end up on the ground like what’s happened to us lately.
“So, it's not a matter of what the result that the other can accomplish. I know my potential, I know everything, but the reality is that we must accept the potential of the actual package and react.”
While Honda has made tangible gains compared to last year, Ducati and Aprilia have also delivered significant improvements to strengthen their stranglehold on MotoGP. On Sunday, the two Italian manufacturers locked out seven spots inside the top 10, leaving just three positions up for grabs for Honda and KTM.
KTM has fixed its tyre degradation issues to a large extent, with Enea Bastianini also emerging as a credible challenger over the last two weekends to assist Pedro Acosta’s efforts on the factory bike.
Honda has had a trickier run lately, not helped by Mir crashing out of the opening three grands prix of the season, including after qualifying fifth in Austin.
While Zarco took satisfaction from his result at Jerez, he stressed that aerodynamics remained the weak link for Honda in 2026.
Johann Zarco, Team LCR Honda
Johann Zarco, Team LCR Honda
“We worked on set-up, I'm sure we can improve the pace and the feeling on the bike by finding an even better set-up, plus me improving my riding on the bike,” he said. “So we need to make this compromise better and extract the best of what we have.
“If we look at the bike from outside, maybe we missed something on aero and on the fairing, but this won't change for the year. That's the limit of Honda at the moment.
“They are working on it, [but] they didn’t find anything better in aerodynamics. So we cannot think about the other bikes. There are differences and that's why we lose. We need to find out how to use our material better.”
Jorge Martin says there is "no gap" between Aprilia and Ducati following the Spanish Grand Prix and he believes it is down to the riders to make the difference as the MotoGP season unfolds.
Aprilia was defeated for the first time this year at Jerez last Sunday, when Alex Marquez took victory for the Gresini Ducati squad. After the factory Aprilias, Marco Bezzecchi and Martin, came home second and fourth respectively, Martin said there was nothing to choose between the two Italian marques.
Asked in his media briefing if Ducati had closed the gap in Spain, he replied: "There is no gap. I think there is no sense to continue comparing Aprilia with Ducati.
"I know it's your job," he joked with the journalists in attendance. "You need to speak about something. But there's no gap.
"The Aprilia and the Ducati are different. One is faster in one point, the other one is faster in another one.
"Today, a Ducati won, with an Aprilia second. I was in fourth, so a bit of a mix. I think it will be like this all season. Ducati versus Aprilia, or, I don't know, Marquez versus Martin versus Bezzecchi.
"So, it's more about the rider than the bike at the moment."
Pedro Acosta, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Pedro Acosta, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Martin's countryman Pedro Acosta, who struggled to 10th aboard the factory KTM, on a bad weekend he hopes will be an outlier, was more forthright about Ducati having made progress upon MotoGP's return to Europe.
"It's clear that Ducati woke up again," said the man from Murcia, who went on to offer an opinion on a key storyline in that battle among the top riders: Marc Marquez's struggles.
Once again, Marc failed to assume his usual position as leader of the Ducati brigade. Not only was he unable to match the pace of his brother Alex, he also crashed. Asked about the accident at the fast Criville right-hander, Acosta referenced the injury Marquez picked up in Indonesia last season, just after he wrapped up the world championship.
"It looks like since Indonesia, he's not riding as comfortably as he was last year," said Acosta, who is slated to join Marquez at the Ducati factory team next season. "[That's why] I imagine that he's not at his 100%, because it's quite strange to see Marc crashing in this type of corner."
Marquez reiterated after the Spanish GP that he was fully recovered and fit, but echoed Acosta's observation.
"For some reason, at the moment I'm not feeling [the way I did] last year," he said. "Last year, I was riding in an easy way, always in a good position on the bike. And this year, I'm not able to do it."
Photos from Spanish GP - Sunday
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Media VR46
Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pramac Racing
Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pramac Racing
Burak Akbulut - Anadolu - Getty Images
Johann Zarco, LCR Honda Team
Johann Zarco, LCR Honda Team
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Red Bull Content Pool
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team autograph
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team autograph
Media VR46
The World Championship trophy
The World Championship trophy
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Ducati Corse
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Yamaha
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Ducati Corse
Giacomo Agostini
Giacomo Agostini
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing umbrella girl on the grid.
Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing umbrella girl on the grid.
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Johann Zarco, LCR Honda Team
Johann Zarco, LCR Honda Team
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Fans
Fans
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Alex Rins, Yamaha Factory Racing
Alex Rins, Yamaha Factory Racing
Yamaha
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Pierre-Philippe Marcou / AFP via Getty Images
Johann Zarco, LCR Honda Team
Johann Zarco, LCR Honda Team
Pierre-Philippe Marcou / AFP via Getty Images
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Jorge Guerrero - AFP - Getty Images
Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing
Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team, Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team, Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Jorge Guerrero - AFP - Getty Images
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Yamaha
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing, Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing, Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Red Bull Content Pool
Franco Morbidelli, VR46 Racing Team
Franco Morbidelli, VR46 Racing Team
Media VR46
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Team
Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Team
Red Bull Content Pool
Johann Zarco, LCR Honda Team, Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Johann Zarco, LCR Honda Team, Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Red Bull Content Pool
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Jorge Guerrero - AFP - Getty Images
Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Team
Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Team
Red Bull Content Pool
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Jorge Guerrero - AFP - Getty Images
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Jorge Guerrero - AFP - Getty Images
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Jorge Guerrero - AFP - Getty Images
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Media VR46
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Media VR46
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Jose Breton - Pics Action - NurPhoto - Getty Images
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Media VR46
Alex Márquez, Gresini Racing, Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing, Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Alex Márquez, Gresini Racing, Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing, Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Jose Breton - Pics Action - NurPhoto - Getty Images
Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing
Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Pierre-Philippe Marcou / AFP via Getty Images
Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing
Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing
Aprilia Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Jose Breton - Pics Action - NurPhoto - Getty Images
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Jose Breton - Pics Action - NurPhoto - Getty Images
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team
Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Alex Marquez has outlined the factors behind his turnaround in form after claiming a dominant victory at the Spanish Grand Prix.
The Gresini rider was in top form the opening practice session on Friday and only a sudden downpour in the sprint prevented him from scoring a clean sweep of victories across the weekend.
While Ducati had the fastest bike all weekend, he had the upper hand on his brother Marc Marquez as well as VR46’s Fabio di Giannantonio, as he led the Borgo Panigale marque to its first win since last year’s Malaysian GP.
The result marked a significant return to form for the 30-year-old, who had managed a best result of fourth (Austin sprint) across the three rounds of the season. Nowhere in the early flyaway races had he appeared confident aboard the GP26.
But a return to Jerez, the scene of his maiden MotoGP victory a year ago, provided a welcome morale boost, even if he had played down his chances heading into the weekend.
Beyond the psychological lift, Marquez also felt he was able to get the maximum out of the bike - something he failed to do in the opening salvo of races.
“Honestly, we need to analyse what happened compared to the first three weeks of the beginning of the season,” he said. “But anyway, I was riding over the problems [at Jerez], just thinking about the positive things, just pushing with the team and Ducati over the problems.
“I extracted the positive thing that this bike has that we were not able to strike in the first three races. It was a really unexpected [result].”
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Naturally, with an extended four-week break on the calendar, Ducati was able to bring several new parts to Jerez - with Marquez able to run those immediately now that he has a factory-spec bike. In fact, Gresini brought forward the introduction of some components that were originally earmarked for the post-race test on Monday.
Marquez was tight-lipped about the changes Ducati has made to his GP26, but offered some clues about the updates: “We introduced a few things, small ones. The only thing you can see clearly is the new rear aerodynamics. The other things you need to imagine.”
Those updates, combined with his own adaptability, gave Marquez a similar feeling to the one he enjoyed last year, when he was finishing on the podium virtually every race weekend.
“At the moment, yes, the feeling that I had was really similar to last year,” he said.
“But it’s too early and we need to analyse what we did differently this weekend. Also, Le Mans, Mugello and Montmelo will be important to understand if this step we did here [is genuine] or is just one weekend. So it will be important to keep pushing.”
While Marquez has always been strong at right-hand corners, he also appeared quick at left turns at Jerez. This difference was noted by none other than his brother Marc Marquez, who is famous for his strength in left-hand corners.
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Alex Marquez explained how the time he spent training with his brother allowed him to close the gap in a key area.
“I always try to work at home and improve in that area. I’m training everyday with Marc - flat track and even motocross,” he said.
“I see what he is doing and try to improve. Many times, it is just about feeling, and this weekend, from the first time on track, I felt my bike was turning really good on the left parts like Turns 4, 7 and 8.
“I was able to not make the difference compared to Marc, but at least be at the same level.”
Pedro Acosta pointed to tyre grip and braking issues at Jerez after missing out on a direct place in Q2 for the first time in the 2026 MotoGP season.
Acosta was unusually off the pace during Practice for the Spanish Grand Prix, finishing a distant 15th aboard the factory KTM.
After bolting on a fresh soft rear tyre late in the session, the Spaniard lit up the timesheets on two separate occasions but failed to complete a clean lap each time. He also nearly-suffered a highside at Turn 6, the tricky right-hand hairpin which marks the heaviest braking zone at Jerez.
While Acosta managed to deliver a late improvement, it wasn’t enough for a Q2 berth, missing out by a tenth of a second to fellow KTM rider Enea Bastianini.
Explaining what went wrong on Friday, the 21-year-old suggested his struggles at Jerez could be track-specific.
“It’s hard to understand, because I only get these ‘normal’ feelings here [and not elsewhere],” he said. “Hopefully, this will be the worst grand prix of the year and then we can carry on in the vein we were in.
“I think with that tyre [that gave me the scare], for some reason, I would have made it into Q2, because I was going much faster than with the second one [the one he fitted afterwards].
“For some reason, I had more grip than on the second attempt. We need to understand what’s going on, why we’re struggling so much to brake; it seems to be our weak point on this circuit.”
Five out of six Ducatis safely progressed into Q2 on Friday, while all four full-season Aprilias were also classified inside the top 10.
That left just one spot for a non-Italian bike on the grid, which eventually went to Bastianini on the Tech3-entered RC16.
While last year’s winner Alex Marquez enjoyed a three-tenth advantage at the front aboard the Gresini Ducatis, the rest of the field was separated by fine margins.
“The fact that everything is so close makes [missing out on Q2] seem even worse, because in the end, with a two tenths of a second improvement, you could end up third,” he admitted. “But anyway, there’s work to be done for tomorrow."
Acosta will face the entire Honda and Yamaha contingents in Q1 on Saturday, along with his team-mate Brad Binder and VR46 Ducati’s Franco Morbidelli.
He acknowledged the importance of qualifying at Jerez, particularly with tyre pressure regulations expected to make overtaking difficult in the race.
“Q1 will be everything, provided it doesn’t rain on Sunday,” he said. “The thing is, quite often, getting through to Q2 via Q1 is much harder than qualifying directly. Let’s see if we can make a step forward, but it’s true that it’s going to be a tight battle, because I’ve seen that Joan Mir, Brad Binder, Franco Morbidelli - who always springs a surprise - and Fabio Quartararo are all there.
“The race pace hasn’t been bad, especially in practice, but if we start 15th, having a good pace won’t be of much use. We’ll have to make the best of it tomorrow."
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