Fermin Aldeguer arrives at Motegi with more than just a spot on the grid on his mind. The Gresini Racing rider is on a personal mission: turn promising pace into a tangible result. In an exclusive interview with journalist Manuel Pecino, Aldeguer admitted that Motegi has been a riddle he has yet to solve—fast, yet often unrewarding.
“Motegi is a bit of a strange circuit for me,” Aldeguer said. “I’ve always had good feelings and good lap times, but I’ve never managed to close out a strong result here. Always in the top 10, but never on the podium or fighting for victory. I’ve also made quite a few mistakes.”
This season, Aldeguer is building momentum. After an early campaign hampered by physical issues, he is gradually finding his rhythm and confidence. “I hope to get results like in the last race,” he added. Extra motivation always accompanies him when he leaves Japan, and he wants to end this weekend with a smile.
Mistakes and Bad Luck Have Haunted Him
Aldeguer doesn’t deny that non-technical factors have often derailed his efforts at Motegi. “Last year, at the end of practice we were quite fast, but there were many yellow flags so I couldn’t go directly to Q2. In Q1 I was second, then I crashed at Turn 5 during my time attack. All opportunities were lost,” he recalled.
Moreover, Motegi’s narrow and technical nature makes the race a physical and mental test. “The race is quite demanding. It’s difficult to overtake, and following another rider can cause front tyre temperature issues,” he explained. Aldeguer admitted he has experienced front tyre temperature problems in recent races, and that is one area they are working on.
The Spanish rider also touched on Austria, known as a brake-heavy circuit. “I don’t have specific information. It will be interesting to see and try,” he said briefly. However, he doesn’t want to get caught up in technical speculation that could distract from the Motegi weekend.
Opportunity and Pressure at Gresini
With Ducati and the Gresini team, Aldeguer has a package capable of fighting at the front. However, consistency remains a work in progress. He knows that a result at Motegi could be a turning point for the rest of the season. “I always leave this circuit with extra motivation, like what happened in Indonesia last year. Hopefully this time I can end the weekend with a good result,” he hoped.
If Aldeguer can overcome the ‘Motegi curse’, he could become a serious threat for the remainder of the calendar. One thing is clear: he doesn’t want to leave empty-handed again. “We’ll see what happens,” he concluded.
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