Fermin Aldeguer’s rumoured move to VR46 Ducati has been confirmed ahead of the MotoGP meeting at Aragon this weekend.
The Spaniard has been given a two-year extension on his Ducati Corse contract and will move from the Gresini Racing team to Valentino Rossi’s garage in 2027.
This season Aldeguer is one of only two riders to race on the GP25 Ducati, alongside Franco Morbidelli, but will be given a factory spec machine next year.
He made a pretty strong case. Welcome to the team, @Aldeguer54 (you’ll have plenty of time to work on your design skills) 🤝 #MotoGP #PertaminaEnduroVR46RacingTeam pic.twitter.com/3TfNqKfz8A
“I’m very happy to be taking this step in my MotoGP career with the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team,” Aldeguer said. “Signing with Valentino’s team is incredible. He has always been one of my idols and a role model for me. I think having him within the team will help me improve as a rider thanks to his valuable advice.
“The VR46 Racing Team is Ducati Factory Supported Team, an extremely professional outfit, and I’m very happy to be racing with them.
“With the new regulations coming in for 2027, my goal will be to adapt to the new tyres, but also to the new bike. Having the factory Ducati will be a huge help in terms of development throughout the season. It will be a year in which we will aim to be consistent, avoid mistakes and spend as much time as possible on the bike to gather information.
“I’m sure we’ll work extremely well with the whole team and the Ducati engineers. We’ll be able to do a great job and aim to consistently finish inside the top five. I can’t finish without thanking the entire Gresini Racing team and Nadia, who have helped me grow and brought me to where I am today.”
Aldeguer, who becomes the first non-Italian to race for Rossi’s team, enjoyed a brilliant maiden season in MotoGP last year with a double podium at Le Mans the standout from the opening six rounds. Another Sprint podium followed at Aragon, before Aldeguer finished second at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.
His big moment came in Indonesia when he dominated to take his maiden Grand Prix victory a day after finishing second in the Sprint. With three GP podiums, three Sprint podiums and nine top six GP results, Aldeguer ended the year eighth in the championship.
“Fermín perfectly represents Ducati’s vision for the future of racing: believing in young talent and nurturing their growth so they can fully unleash their potential,” Ducati CEO, Claudio Domenicali said. “This philosophy has brought us immense satisfaction over the years, and it is one we remain deeply committed to.
“From the very beginning, we recognised in Fermín a rider ready to tackle a major challenge like MotoGP. He made his premier-class debut with Ducati and quickly carved out his place on the grid, proving he possesses all the qualities needed to compete at the highest level.
“Starting next season, he will embark on a new chapter with the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team—a squad that excels at developing young riders and shares our same ambition and hunger for victory.”
2026 hasn’t been so straightforward. Aldeguer missed pre-season testing and the opening round after suffering a fractured femur in a training crash at the Aspar Circuit in Valencia.
He valiantly returned in Brazil for the second round and finished eighth, before recording an 11 th and two ninth places in the following three rounds.
Aldeguer finished second in the chaotic Catalan Grand Prix in Barc…