Fermin Aldeguer faced a bitter pill in the free practice session of the 2026 San Marino MotoGP at Misano. The Ducati rider was on track for a direct spot in Q2, but a mechanical problem on the front wheel of his bike ruined his chances at the crucial moment. Aldeguer had to settle for a Q1 ticket, even though his pace was competitive.
Throughout the session, Aldeguer consistently ran inside the top eight. He was eighth or ninth, just two to three tenths off the fastest. Unfortunately, when he was about to do his final time attack, his bike suffered a technical issue that forced him to return to the pits and switch to the spare machine. “We had a bit of bad luck because when I was going out for the last time attack, we had a mechanical problem with the front wheel,” Aldeguer said, as reported from the paddock.
The setback clearly disrupted his focus. Aldeguer admitted there was some panic, especially having to change bikes in the dying moments. “There was a bit of nerves, changing bikes, and so on. We maybe lost the opportunity to be in Q2, but we have to take the positives and the good feeling we had during the session,” he added. Despite the failure, he stressed that the practice was not all bad because he still felt promising performance.
Interestingly, Aldeguer sees a silver lining. He believes Q1 could be a hidden advantage. With extra laps in Q1, he hopes to better understand the bike's setup direction and find a better race rhythm. “It's true that in Aragon I felt a little better than here, but we have that Q1 to do more laps, know which direction to go with the bike, and get more rhythm,” he explained.
Competition in MotoGP 2026 is incredibly tight. The gaps between riders are minimal, so any small mistake or mechanical issue can be costly. Aldeguer is well aware of that. “Everything is moving by just a few tenths. In fact, I was eighth or ninth all session, two or three tenths off. Here, the smallest thing matters,” he said.
If he can perform at his best in Q1, Aldeguer is confident he can carry positive momentum into Q2. “If we come in hot and can take advantage of that punch, we'll see,” he said. He does not view Friday's result as a step back, but rather as a chance to gather extra data that he might not have gotten if he had gone directly into Q2.
Misano itself is known to be physically demanding compared to some other circuits. With fast corners and hard braking, riders need peak fitness. Aldeguer felt the same. “This track is more physically intense, especially in the long right-handers. We have to be really prepared,” he admitted. However, he remains optimistic about overcoming the challenge.
With the speed he has already shown, Aldeguer still has a great chance to bounce back in qualifying. Q1 will be a mental and technical test for him. If he can handle the pressure, it's not impossible that he will come out stronger in Q2 and secure a favorable grid position for Sunday's race. Fermin Aldeguer certainly does not want to waste this second chance.
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