Fermin Aldeguer Passed Fit for Qatar Grand Prix

Spanish rider Fermin Aldeguer has officially received clearance to race at this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix. The 21-year-old passed his track medical check on Thursday at the Lusail International Circuit. He recently had surgery on his hand.

Aldeguer missed recent races after undergoing an operation on his hand. Championship doctors are now satisfied with his recovery. This means he can rejoin his BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP squad for the race weekend.

His return gives the independent Ducati team an experienced rider in the garage. The championship now heads under the floodlights for round 20 of the 2026 campaign.

Why was Aldeguer sidelined?

Aldeguer had to miss recent rounds after needing surgery on his hand. In motorcycle racing, hand injuries are a serious problem. Riders rely heavily on their fingers and wrists to control the throttle and the front brake.

A MotoGP bike takes huge physical effort to control. This is especially true when braking from speeds above 200 mph. Any lack of grip strength or ongoing pain can make riding unsafe.

Aldeguer sat out the Malaysian Grand Prix. He then travelled to Doha hoping to prove his fitness before Friday’s opening practice sessions.

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How does the medical check work?

Before injured riders can take to the track, they must visit the circuit medical centre. This physical check is mandatory. Championship doctors examine the surgery scar, test grip strength, and check that the rider can move the injured limb freely.

Passing this test gives the rider permission to ride in free practice. Doctors will keep watching Aldeguer closely. They want to see how his hand copes with the physical strain of riding at speed.

A rider might suffer swelling, reduced movement, or strong pain after a session. If so, doctors can step in and stop them before competitive sessions begin. To understand how the weekend schedule builds towards the main event, take a look at how qualifying works.

What is the Gresini team lineup in Qatar?

Aldeguer is back on his bike, but the other side of the Gresini garage looks different this weekend. His regular teammate Alex Marquez is absent. Marquez had shoulder surgery in Madrid earlier this week.

Spanish rider Iker Lecuona has stepped in as a stand-in rider for Alex Marquez in Qatar. Lecuona takes over the seat beside Aldeguer as the team prepares for the night race.

Gresini runs as an independent team using Ducati bikes. If you are new to the sport and want to know how customer squads compare to factory teams, read our guide to factory versus independent teams.

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What can fans expect from Aldeguer in Lusail?

Aldeguer arrives in Qatar sitting 11th in the championship standings with 125 points. He has missed track time recently. Because of this, his main goal will be getting comfortable on the bike rather than fighting for a win right away.

The Lusail International Circuit is famous as the only track on the calendar raced entirely at night. For details on how the desert evening changes track temperatures and riding lines, see our beginner’s Lusail circuit guide.

Aldeguer must also tackle the shorter Saturday sprint alongside Sunday’s full Grand Prix. The Saturday race awards half-distance points. It will test a recovering rider’s fitness early in the weekend.

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Quick Takeaways

• Fermin Aldeguer has passed his track medical check and is cleared to race in Qatar this weekend.
• The 21-year-old missed recent rounds following surgery on his hand.
• Aldeguer will partner stand-in rider Iker Lecuona at Gresini, while Alex Marquez recovers from shoulder surgery.
• The event at Lusail International Circuit is round 20 of the 2026 MotoGP season.