until Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League
Moto2 star Fermin Aldeguer will make his MotoGP debut in 2025 as part of the Ducati stable.
The long-rumoured deal was officially announced on Monday in the lead-up to the MotoGP race weekend at Portugal's Portimao track.
The 18-year-old Spaniard, who will turn 19 next month, is expected to ride for Ducati's main satellite team Pramac.
Aldeguer won four races on the trot to close out the Moto2 season last year, although was a shadow of his 2023 self in this year's intermediate-class opener in Qatar, where the pecking order was mixed up hugely on the race debut of tyres from new supplier Pirelli (replacing Dunlop).
But the Spaniard's phenomenal end to 2023 and previous flashes of promise meant his MotoGP promotion in 2025 has long seemed a formality.
In fact, he was even VR46's first choice - once Luca Marini was lured away by Honda - to step up in 2024, only for his current Moto2 boss Luca Boscoscuro's demands to release him from his contract a year early to reportedly prove too steep.
Ducati hasn't yet announced the team it will be placing Aldeguer in, although that is widely expected to be Pramac. The hold-up there is likely connected to the fact that Pramac isn't believed to have actually re-upped its deal with Ducati for 2025 yet.
The Bologna firm also said in its announcement that Aldeguer was stepping up on a two-year deal - and that this deal then contained the option for a further two years.
"I am thrilled with this agreement because Aldeguer is one of the strongest riders in the new generation of MotoGP," said Ducati general manager Gigi Dall'Igna.
"Over the last few years, we have followed his evolution; during the last season, he showed incredible speed.
"He is a very young guy with the potential and characteristics to do well, and we will give him all the technical support to help him grow."
Aldeguer's arrival means Ducati will have to make room at Pramac, which currently fields Jorge Martin and Franco Morbidelli.
But while Martin is right now the stronger option of the two (also because Morbidelli is coming off a heavily-compromised pre-season), it is widely expected that he will not remain a Pramac rider for a fifth straight season in 2025 and instead seek a works team ride, whether with Ducati or elsewhere.
"Thanks to Ducati, I'll realise the dream I've pursued since childhood," said Aldeguer.
"The time has arrived to take the big leap and compete with the world's finest riders, and what's more, I'll be doing it with the best bike on the grid.
"Now that I know what the future holds, it's time to focus solely on this season, where I face a significant challenge in Moto2. I'll give my all to leave this category with my head held high, aiming for the best possible results before embarking on the new adventure in MotoGP."
