ALDEGUER HAS HAND SURGERY, PHILLIP ISLAND START IN DOUBT

Fermin Aldeguer has had surgery in Spain after fracturing his right hand in a crash at the Indonesian Grand Prix, leaving his availability for next weekend’s Australian round uncertain.

The Gresini Ducati rider qualified sixth at Mandalika and finished seventh in the sprint. He made a strong start to Sunday’s race, moving from sixth to fourth on the opening lap, before falling at Turn 16 on lap two. The crash was his third of the weekend. MotoGP medical director said Aldeguer had broken the base of the first metacarpal in his right hand and required an operation. Doctor Xavier Mir performed the surgery in Barcelona, fixing the fracture with screws after Aldeguer returned to Spain. The injury is believed to have happened when he struck the tarmac as he slid off.

Aldeguer offered a brief update on Instagram: “Another bump in this 2026... rider OK!!! Thank you Dr. Mir and your team.” Ducati has not provided a recovery timetable. Team manager Davide Tardozzi was pessimistic about a quick return. “I don't think he'll be at Phillip Island,” he said in Mandalika, according to Sky Italia. Aldeguer’s participation in the Australian Grand Prix, scheduled for October 23–25, has not been confirmed, with the coming days a race against time for the Spaniard.

If Aldeguer cannot ride, Gresini will need a replacement. Nicolo Bulega is one possible option, alongside test rider Michele Pirro and World Superbike rider Iker Lecuona. Pirro replaced Aldeguer in Thailand, while Lecuona stood in at Silverstone after the Spaniard’s Assen injury. Lecuona also replaced Alex Marquez at Balaton Park, finishing seventh, but crashed out at Silverstone. With the WSBK season ending this weekend and Pirro nearing retirement, Bulega could be considered.

The Italian has won 29 of 33 WSBK races before the final round at Jerez and has extensively tested Ducati’s 850cc machine ahead of the 2027 rules. He is set to join VR46 next year alongside Aldeguer and has not raced in MotoGP since standing in for Marc Marquez in the final two rounds of 2025. Phillip Island could offer Ducati a chance to assess his readiness, although adapting from 850cc testing to the current 1,000cc bike and Michelin tyres may be a challenge. Bulega has strong track experience, having won seven of the last nine WSBK races at the circuit.

The latest injury adds to a difficult year for the 2025 Rookie of the Year. He missed pre-season testing and the opening Thai round after fracturing his left femur in a training crash at the Aspar Circuit near Valencia in January. He then sat out the Sachsenring and Silverstone rounds after fracturing a vertebra at Assen in late June. The hand injury is his third fracture of the year. He also recently underwent an operation to remove metalwork from his left leg.

Four rounds will remain after Australia before Aldeguer is due to move to VR46 for the new 850cc and Ducati era.