Iker Lecuona will substitute Fermin Aldeguer at Phillip Island because the Spaniard recovers from right-hand surgical procedure.
Recent off wrapping up his 2026 WorldSBK marketing campaign final weekend in Jerez, Iker Lecuona is ready to make a right away transition again into the premier class. The Spaniard will step onto a MotoGP bike for the third time this season.
Lecuona was first referred to as upon by Gresini previous to the summer season break to face in for Alex Marquez at Balaton Park earlier than returning at Silverstone to substitute for Aldeguer.
Now, the Aruba.it WorldSBK rider will sort out the Desmosedici GP at Phillip Island whereas Aldeguer recovers. The MotoGP rookie sustained a fracture to the primary metacarpal bone in his hand throughout a crash at Mandalika and not too long ago underwent profitable surgical procedure. Aldeguer is concentrating on a return in time for the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang in two weeks.
This marks the fifth Grand Prix occasion missed by Aldeguer this 12 months in what has confirmed to be a taxing 2026 marketing campaign within the premier class.
A premier-class debut at Phillip Island for Lecuona
Whereas Aldeguer might be compelled to sit down out the ultimate version of the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island earlier than MotoGP transitions to Adelaide in 2027, Lecuona will get his first alternative to sort out the long-lasting circuit on a MotoGP machine.
Regardless of competing full-time within the premier class throughout the 2020 and 2021 seasons with Tech3 KTM, Lecuona by no means received the possibility to race at Phillip Island on a MotoGP bike because of the occasion’s cancellation throughout the pandemic.
“I helped the staff just a few occasions, and I loved it loads,” Lecuona instructed media, together with Motorsport Week, in Jerez. “It will be an excellent alternative to race in Australia on a MotoGP, which I’ve by no means performed due to covid. It will be one other monitor with a distinct bike. In the event that they name me, in fact I’ll go.”
The outing affords Lecuona an opportunity to bounce again from a tough Silverstone spherical the place he suffered a double DNF, contrasting his standout P7 end at Balaton Park earlier in the summertime. Each MotoGP look serves as a further alternative to display his capacity to Ducati.
“In fact, if I’ve the possibility to return and so they give me a possibility, I’d take it,” he mentioned. “However I’m very, very glad right here. I do know what a MotoGP paddock is like, and I believe right here it’s a lot friendlier and extra family-orientated. I even have fewer races and extra time to be at residence with my spouse and daughter. If I do very nicely like Nicolo, Ducati can provide me an opportunity.”