Fermin Aldeguer will not take part in the opening round of the 2026 MotoGP season in Thailand as he continues to recover from a broken leg.

The young Spanish rider had already been ruled out of the first pre-season test at Sepang earlier this month. However, there was still some hope that he might return in time for the second test and the season-opening Thai Grand Prix at Buriram on 1 March. Those hopes have now ended.

On Thursday, Gresini Racing confirmed that Aldeguer will miss both the Buriram test and the race weekend at the same circuit. It is another setback for the 21-year-old, who had been looking forward to building on a strong debut season in the premier class.

In an official statement, the team said:
“Fermin Aldeguer's recovery is progressing quickly, though not enough for him to be in Thailand. The Spaniard will not be present at the Buriram tests or the first race of the season. Michele Pirro will replace him.”

Aldeguer suffered the injury in January while training at the Aspar Circuit in Valencia. He crashed his Yamaha R6 and broke his left femur. After the accident, he was taken to a hospital in Barcelona, where he had surgery to repair the fracture.

Since then, Aldeguer has been working hard on his rehabilitation. He is currently training with a specialist medical team in Andorra, aiming to speed up his recovery in a safe and controlled way. A broken femur is a serious injury, and although modern surgery and physiotherapy can help riders return more quickly, full recovery takes time.

In his place, Ducati test rider Michele Pirro will step in for the Thailand round. Pirro is highly experienced and knows the Ducati machinery well. He also replaced factory rider Marc Marquez in two races at the end of the 2025 season, showing that he remains a reliable stand-in when needed.

Missing the opening race means Aldeguer is unlikely to return before the Brazilian Grand Prix on 22 March, three weeks after the Thai event. Losing valuable pre-season testing and the first race will make his preparations more difficult, especially in such a competitive championship.

Aldeguer, who is directly contracted to Ducati, impressed many observers last year by winning the Rookie of the Year title with Gresini Racing. He showed speed, maturity and consistency beyond his years, raising expectations for his second season in MotoGP.

While his absence in Thailand is disappointing, his long-term health is the priority. Both the team and Ducati will want him fully fit before he returns to racing. Fans will now hope to see him back on the grid in Brazil, ready to continue his promising MotoGP career.