Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1542841
Aldeguer Out of Sepang Test F ermin Aldeguer will miss the first test of the 2026 MotoGP pre- season after sustaining an injury on January 8, but the Spaniard retains hope of racing once the season gets underway in Thailand. The Rookie of the Year in 2025 fractured his left femur in a training fall at the Aspar Circuit south of Valencia, Spain. It was feared he could miss the opening races of the cam - paign due to the complex- ity of the break. The surgery he received the following day in Barcelona was a success. "Now it's time to rest," said the Gresini team on social media. A return for the season opener, which starts on February 27, is now the goal, according to Aitor Tomas, a physio who has been helping with Al - deguer's recovery, when speaking to Catalan paper L'Esportiu. As he won't travel to Malaysia, Gresini team manager Michele Masini and crew chief Frankie Carchedi greeted the 21-year-old at his home in Andorra in a surprise visit on Monday, January 26. "If Fermin is forced to skip the preseason, then Gresini goes to the moun - tain," read Gresini's social media post. "Fermin [is] officially missing the first test of the season in Sepang. Get well soon!" Neil Morrison VOLUME ISSUE JANUARY , P33 Fermin Aldeguer's absence from the test will be a blow in a crucial sophomore year for the Spaniard. Marquez: I Would Like To Keep Enjoying M arc Marquez has insisted he wishes to extend his stay in MotoGP until 2028 at the earliest while saying his current goal is to "keep enjoying" his racing while competing for competi - tive results. The 32-year-old conceded he has to find new motivation for the upcoming season after completing "the biggest challenge of my career" in 2025, when he won his ninth World title and completed one of the sport's more memorable comebacks. He also mentioned that a championship challenge is a "responsibility" after dominating large chunks of last season, his first in Ducati's factory team. "Keep enjoying," was his response when asked where he will find the motivation for the year ahead. "I'm happy with my life, I'm happy with my work, if you can say work because it's my passion. And so, to keep enjoying [is the goal]. "I have already done the most difficult chal - lenge of my career, which was to come back. Now if something arrives, it's welcome. Of course, I would like to keep enjoy - ing, which means fighting for podiums, fighting for the victories and champi - onships, things which are quite big and difficult to achieve. But this year we have the responsibility to fight for the champion- ship one more year." The Catalan also ruled out signing for a manu- facturer for just one sea- son in 2027 rather than committing to a two-year deal. "No, of course the project of a manufac- turer is two years," he said when asked if he'd consider a one-year con- tract. "If not, it will not be a big benefit for the manufacturer." Neil Morrison Marc Marquez is likely to stay with the factory Ducati team into 2027 and 2028, despite rumors of a possible return to Honda.