Fermin Aldeguer has taken another step towards putting his injury troubles behind him after undergoing a minor procedure on his left leg during the short break between the Austrian and Japanese Grands Prix.
The Gresini MotoGP rider had one of the screws supporting his fractured femur removed in an outpatient procedure carried out by his surgeon, Dr Ignacio Ginebreda. The operation was intended to ease discomfort and support his recovery, with Aldeguer able to return home soon afterwards before travelling to Japan.
The procedure is the latest stage in what has been a difficult first full MotoGP season for the Spaniard.
Aldeguer fractured his femur in a training crash at the Aspar Circuit in Valencia in January. The injury required a nail and several screws to stabilise the bone, forcing him to miss pre-season testing as well as the opening Grand Prix in Thailand.
Source: Motorsport.com
While one screw has now been removed, the main hardware will remain in place for the time being. Aldeguer is expected to keep the remaining metalwork until after the Valencia GP and the 2026 pre-season test in December, as removing it earlier would require another lengthy recovery period.
His season suffered another setback in June when he crashed heavily during the Dutch GP at Assen and fractured a cervical vertebra. The injury ruled him out of the remainder of the weekend and forced him to miss the following Grands Prix in Germany and Great Britain.
Aldeguer returned at Aragon in late August and has since been working his way back into race condition.
With only the final part of the season remaining, the 20-year-old's priority is now to complete his recovery while finishing his campaign strongly with Gresini.
His longer-term focus is already on 2027, when he will move to the VR46 Ducati team and step onto factory-specification Ducati machinery. Being fully fit for that transition will be a major priority after a season heavily disrupted by injuries.
The latest procedure therefore represents more than just another medical step. It is part of Aldeguer's effort to enter the winter break in better shape and begin his next chapter with VR46 on a stronger physical footing.
