Fermin Aldeguer will miss the British Grand Prix after sustaining a fractured T7 vertebra during practice at the Dutch round.
Aldeguer’s injury and medical outlook
The Spaniard fractured a thoracic vertebra, T7, while setting up for the Dutch Grand Prix on 29 June. Doctors opted for a conservative, non‑surgical approach that focuses on rest and natural healing. Despite the MotoGP summer break offering a chance to accelerate recovery, medical clearance will only allow Aldeguer to resume training from 15 August. Gresini Racing clarified that he will remain sidelined through the 12th round at Silverstone.
Gresini Racing’s swift replacement strategy
To fill the vacancy, the team announced that World Superbike star Iker Lecuona would return to Gresini for the Silverstone weekend, stepping in for Alex Marquez who was injured earlier that season. Lecuona, who last raced in MotoGP at the Hungarian Grand Prix, finished that race in a solid seventh place—his first MotoGP start in three years. Gresini welcomed the Ducati factory rider, emphasizing the need for experienced talent in the lead‑up to the Aragon event.
Impact on the 2023 MotoGP season
Aldeguer’s sophomore season began poorly; a severe left‑leg injury in January sidelined him for several early races. The broken vertebra added another missed round, leaving him unable to compete in Germany after the Assen practice crash. With only eight of the first eleven Grands Prix completed, the Spaniard’s absence has widened the gap in the championship rankings that year.
Projected return and upcoming races
The team anticipates that Aldeguer can recommence training roughly two weeks after medical clearance and expects him to re‑join the grid at the Aragon Grand Prix scheduled for 28–30 August. Gresini’s statement notes that he will “welcome him back in Aragon in approximately one month’s time.” The rider’s rehabilitation timeline aligns with the championship’s release from the summer break, giving him a chance to return before the final stages of the season.
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