Fermin Aldeguer’s data compared to Marc Marquez by Gresini crew chief

Rookie Fermin Aldeguer is already drawing comparisons to Marc Marquez, with his Gresini crew chief spotting similarities in their riding data.

Fermin Aldeguer of Spain and Gresini Racing MotoGP arrives on the grid before the MotoGP race during the MotoGP of Thailand at Chang International Circuit on March 2, 2025, in Buriram, Thailand. Photo by Mirco Lazzari/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Fermin Aldeguer, the promising rookie who replaced Marc Marquez at Gresini this season, is already making waves in MotoGP. The 19-year-old Spaniard is showing flashes of brilliance, leading his crew chief to draw comparisons between him and the eight-time world champion.

Marquez’s transition to Ducati last season was marked by impressive performances aboard a year-old Desmosedici, culminating in a strong campaign with Gresini. His adaptability and raw speed were evident throughout 2024, setting a high benchmark for his successor. Now, Aldeguer is displaying similar traits, albeit with some inconsistencies that his team hopes to refine.

Crew chief sees Marquez-like qualities in Aldeguer

TNT Sports analyst Neil Hodgson recently shared insights from Frankie Carchedi, Aldeguer’s crew chief at Gresini, who previously worked with Marquez. Carchedi has been closely analyzing Aldeguer’s data and has noticed parallels between the young Spaniard and the MotoGP legend.

“I spoke to Frankie Carchedi, who works with Aldeguer,” Hodgson said. “He is very impressed with the 19-year-old sensation. He said, ‘Some of the things I’ve seen in the data are Marc Marquez-esque.’ But ‘we are trying to figure out why he is inconsistent.’”

One of the key challenges Aldeguer faces is maintaining composure when things don’t go according to plan. Hodgson explained that the young rider’s temperament could sometimes hinder his performance.

“It looks like his temperament—when things aren’t going well, he gets stroppy! At least when you’ve got a crew chief with so much experience, you listen. Aldeguer will take on board to be calm and not panic.”

Learning from Marquez’s success

Former MotoGP rider Michael Laverty weighed in on the comparison, emphasizing how valuable such feedback is for a rookie.

“The man who has just worked with a generational talent, one of the fastest ever, is looking at your data and saying, ‘You are doing something similar to Marc.’ As a rookie, that fills you with confidence,” Laverty said.

However, Aldeguer’s inconsistency remains a point of concern. Laverty believes that developing a steadier approach throughout race weekends will be crucial to his growth.

“He is trying to calm his temperament. It was interesting that they were the initial comments from Gresini Ducati. He is inconsistent, but you can work on that—it’s a weakness to identify. Learning to keep calm over a weekend is essential. If it doesn’t go well in FP1, bring it back, steady the ship.”

Ducati’s long-term vision for Aldeguer

Ducati’s decision to sign Aldeguer last year was seen as a strategic move to secure one of MotoGP’s most promising young talents. Initially signed by Ducati, it was later determined that he would slot into Gresini, stepping into the vacancy left by Marquez’s promotion to the factory team.

Aldeguer’s performance at the Thailand Grand Prix highlighted both his potential and his areas for improvement. The rookie qualified 15th and finished 13th in both the sprint and the grand prix. While his result wasn’t as eye-catching as fellow rookie Ai Ogura’s fifth-place finish on Sunday, his underlying speed and adaptability suggest a bright future.

What makes the comparison to Marquez particularly intriguing is that Aldeguer is competing on a year-old Ducati, just as Marquez did last season. If he can refine his race craft and consistency, he could soon become one of Ducati’s standout riders, potentially following in the footsteps of the very legend he is being compared to.