ALDEGUER STUNS AT MISANO TO SWING THE TITLE LEAD TO MARC MARQUEZ AND DUCATI

Fermin Aldeguer delivered a standout MotoGP weekend at Misano, turning strong qualifying into a decisive late-race push that reshaped the championship picture. The Gresini Ducati rider had already shown encouraging form on his return to action in Aragon two weeks earlier, where he surprised with two sixth-place finishes after a long gap without racing since Assen in June.

In San Marino, Aldeguer’s pace was again evident from the start. With teammate Alex Marquez suffering two withdrawals, Aldeguer put his Ducati on the front row, citing the importance of qualifying as he secured blistering speed for a place in the first start line. From there, he focused on defending and managing the race rhythm.

The sprint didn’t go entirely to plan. Aldeguer became involved in a clash with Pedro Acosta, and the incident cost both riders a better result; Aldeguer ultimately finished eighth. However, the GP race told a different story. After slipping back to fifth during the first half, he found his momentum in the closing stages and launched an attack strong enough to move Aprilia out of the way in the final order.

Aldeguer’s key move came late as he caught and passed Jorge Martin for fourth. That result had major knock-on effects in the standings, with the championship lead changing hands in a broader swing that put Marc Marquez and Ducati at the top.

Reflecting on the 27-lap race, Aldeguer said, “I think we should pretty happy. Although it would have been nicer to finish on the podium, we were very close. My team did a super good job all weekend, so I was able to keep my performance with the bike until the end of the race. It’s a very good feeling to end the weekend like this.”

He also admitted to physical strain near the finish: “To be honest, in the GP race I still had problems at the end, especially with my leg. But I assume that from the next event in Austria I’ll be back to 100 percent physically.”

Aldeguer remains 10th in the championship, with Pecco Bagnaia immediately ahead on 38 points—while Aldeguer is also set to ride a Ducati in 2027, though in VR46 colors.