ALDEGUER TO MISS SEPANG AS LECUONA STAYS WITH GRESINI

Fermin Aldeguer will miss the Malaysian MotoGP at Sepang as he continues to recover from a fractured right thumb, Gresini confirmed on Sunday at Phillip Island. The Spaniard was injured at Mandalika after crashing early in the Indonesian Grand Prix; he broke his thumb not in the crash itself, but as he struck the track while sliding in frustration afterwards.

The absence will make Sepang the sixth MotoGP event Aldeguer has missed in 2026. He joined the campaign late and also suffered a serious back injury at Assen. The 2025 Indonesian GP winner is currently 10th in the championship.

Iker Lecuona will remain in Aldeguer’s place for Gresini. The WorldSBK title runner-up is back with the team this weekend and will ride its Ducati at Sepang. Lecuona previously stood in for Alex Marquez at Gresini and scored a championship point in Saturday’s Sprint at Phillip Island.

Aldeguer is among five riders due to miss Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island. Joan Mir, Luca Marini, Jorge Martin and Raul Fernandez are also absent there. Mir, Marini and Fernandez are expected to return in Malaysia, while Martin’s availability remains uncertain after he fractured his radius in Saturday’s Sprint.

Aprilia said a suspected second fracture had been ruled out. In its update, the team said Martin would stay where he was rather than return to Spain, and would receive the treatment needed over the coming days.

Martin crashed while fighting for the Sprint victory. Alex Marquez, Aldeguer’s Gresini team-mate, went on to finish second behind Marc Marquez.