After the Repsol Honda possibility fell through, Fermin Aldeguer’s future may well still to have MotoGP at the end of the tunnel, but at the wheel of a Desmosedici. The Mooney VR46 Racing Team seems to be the main candidate to sign the rider, but there are other names on the table.
Although there has been no official confirmation, everything suggests that the deal has been finalised between Honda and Luca Marini, which leaves an open MotoGP seat in Valentino Rossi’s team.
About two days ago Uccio Salucci admitted that the #10 would not be with the team next year, and even admitted that he would be interested in securing a rider for the vacancy from Moto2: ‘When you lose a rider like Marini in november, it’s difficult. We have to discuss and talk to the different teams. Our option isn’t just Aldeguer, there are more riders and teams. Tony Arbolino is an option. I like Tony, he’s fast and he’s Italian. He’s another name, but he’s not the only one. We’ll see in the next four days’.
The italian team headmaster even spoke about Pramac’s alleged interest in the 18-year-old Beta Tools SpeedUp rider, speaking to Sky, while guaranteeing that Valentino Rossi’s team had already made an initial enquiry: ‘Pramac’s interest in Aldeguer? I understand them very well. He’s talented. I’m sorry to talk about a rider who has a contract with another team, it’s not our style, but this also happens in sport. For now, we’ve just had a chat, but we’ll be able to get to the heart of things soon’.
The rider himself spoke to DAZN about the alleged interest, which is nothing new to him: ‘I’ve heard that it’s a possible option, but nothing has been decided yet. It doesn’t just depend on me, on my decision, but also on the decision of my current team and Mooney VR46’.
What is certain is that with only one MotoGP seat open at the moment, it’s likely that Aldeguer will take it, which leaves Fabio Di Giannantonio’s future in the class in doubt, as he has been one of the standout riders over the last two rounds (including the Qatar GP).