First reported by Motorsport.com last month, it has been confirmed that Ducati has reached an agreement with Aldeguer to pilot factory machinery starting from the upcoming year.
However, although it was anticipated that Aldeguer would join Pramac, the official announcement from Ducati does not explicitly specify which team the 18-year-old will be assigned to.
Aldeguer has been identified as one of the most promising prospects in the paddock for the past few years. Following his impressive performance with five grand prix victories for Speed Up in Moto2 last season, securing third place in the championship, it was widely anticipated that he would transition to MotoGP in 2025.
Despite being linked to several MotoGP rides for 2024, including Honda, Aldeguer opted to fulfill the remainder of his contract with Speed Up in Moto2.
According to reports, Aldeguer’s Ducati contract spans two years with an option to extend until at least 2028 and includes a base salary of approximately €300,000 for his MotoGP debut.
Gigi Dall’Igna, Ducati’s general manager, expressed his warm welcome to Aldeguer into the Ducati family, eagerly anticipating his presence on the Desmosedici GP. Dall’Igna praised Aldeguer as one of the strongest riders among the new generation of the world championship, citing his remarkable speed demonstrated throughout the last season.
He highlighted Aldeguer’s youth, exceptional potential, and promising characteristics, affirming Ducati’s commitment to providing him with comprehensive technical support to foster his growth and success.
Aldeguer’s signing follows closely after Pramac team boss Gino Borsoi’s remarks to Motorsport.com regarding the potential conclusion of Jorge Martin’s tenure with the squad. Martin’s contract with Pramac is set to expire at the end of this season, and he has openly expressed his aspiration to transition to a factory team.
While Martin would have automatically advanced to the factory Ducati team alongside Francesco Bagnaia had he clinched the 2023 championship, Aldeguer’s signing marks the second recent contract Ducati has secured with a rider. This follows their agreement with double world champion Bagnaia, extending his tenure through to the end of 2026.
As it stands, only Luca Marini and Johann Zarco from Honda, as well as Brad Binder from KTM, have firm contractual arrangements in place beyond the current season, alongside Bagnaia and Aldeguer.
