In a paddock where caution reigns, Gigi Dall'Igna dared again. And, once again, he was right. When the Ducati Corse boss decided to bet on Fermin Aldeguer, barely 18 years old, eyebrows were raised: too young, not enough successful, overshadowed by Pedro Acosta… It was said to be a risky gamble. A year later, the verdict is clear: Aldeguer has blown all the predictions.
Mars 2024. Ducati announces the signing ofAldeguer for 2025-2026. Dall'Igna praises the Spaniard's raw talent: " One of the strongest of his generation " But the CV doesn't convince everyone: only 3rd then 5th in Moto2, eight victories but a record far from the sacred monsters. Many see it as a brilliant gamble... or an ill-considered risk.
And then comes 2025. From May, Aldeguer takes the podium at MansHe reoffends at Aragon, takes 2nd place at the Red Bull Ring. Mandalika, he led the sprint race from start to finish before losing by only 0,157 seconds to BezzecchiIn Mandalika, he has just won his first MotoGP victory. As a result, the rookie has the wind in his sails while the double champion Pecco Bagnaia is going through a roller-coaster season. Ducati, who had felt that his GP24 could reveal talent, saw his bet come to fruition.
Gigi Dall'Igna, one step ahead: " Fermin Aldeguer signs! »
Mauro Grassilli, Ducati's new sports boss, says: " When I took up my post, Gigi's first order was: "Sign Aldeguer." We thought we would have to wait until mid-season to see his level. He wowed us at Le Mans. »
Dall'Igna didn't just find a good driver. He unearthed a future pillar Ducati, capable of performing against heavyweights from his rookie season.
In one MotoGP sometimes cautious, where we prefer reassuring CVs to pure instinct, Ducati showed that betting on raw talent can pay off.
The message is clear: when Dall'Igna sees something, you have to listen to it. And if the next big star of Ducati en lieu and in place of bagnaia and Marquez, but what about this 20-year-old kid that everyone underestimated?
