Fermin Aldeguer’s return from injury at the opening round of the 2026 MotoGP season has not been ruled out, despite the Gresini rider being set to miss all pre-season testing.
Aldeguer suffered a fractured femur earlier this month following a training accident and underwent surgery shortly after. While Gresini has yet to provide a clear recovery timeline, it has been widely expected that the Spaniard will be absent from the Sepang and Buriram tests in February.
The 2026 MotoGP season begins in Thailand from February 27 to March 1, leaving Aldeguer facing a race against time to be fit for the opening round.
His rehabilitation is being overseen by experienced MotoGP physiotherapist Aitor Tomas, who has previously worked with riders such as Aleix Espargaro, Dani Pedrosa and Pedro Acosta. Speaking to Catalan outlet L’Esportu, Tomas confirmed Aldeguer will not be ready for pre-season running but said efforts are focused on having him prepared for the first race.
Tomas explained that femur fractures typically require long recovery periods and described Aldeguer’s injury as complex. However, he pointed to Pedro Acosta’s experience in Moto2, where the KTM rider returned to riding just weeks after suffering a similar injury.
Despite the comparison, Tomas stressed that recovery timelines can vary significantly from rider to rider, even with similar injuries, and cautioned against drawing direct conclusions. He added that Aldeguer’s case is slightly more complicated, meaning careful progression is required.
Gresini has not yet announced any plans regarding a possible replacement should Aldeguer be unable to compete at the start of the season.
