Fermin Aldeguer, who recently turned 20, first touched the sky in MotoGP at Le Mans, taking the third step of the podium alongside the two Marquez brothers. An unexpected result perhaps even for the Spaniard, but nonetheless one expected given the premises seen a few weeks ago in Qatar.
This is a sign that the Spaniard's improvement on the GP24 since the beginning of the season has been there, as the fight, which he won, with a tough rider like Quartararo also showed. Sure, the Ducati still has an advantage over the Yamaha, Aldeguer does not deny it, but the Team Gresini rookie is learning fast and Le Mans according to him is not even his best track.
"I'm really happy - were the Spaniard's first words - we got the first podium of the season, the first in MotoGP. Also in Austin, Jerez and Qatar we were fast and we had the pace to fight, but here in Le Mans I didn't have too many expectations because it's at a circuit where I usually have difficulties. So it's incredible to be able to share the podium with Marc and Alex, one is my teammate, the other my life idol. I want to thank Gresini and Ducati because they have helped me a lot, when you are a rookie you don't have too much pressure and I don't have any, except what I put on myself. Now we have to try to continue in this direction."
Does getting the podium that had eluded you until now relieve you of some of that pressure?
"Now I'm at a crossroads, on the one hand I might be under more pressure because you want to do even more, on the other hand there will be less because I got this success and I know I can do it. I think I am calmer now in MotoGP than I was in Moto 2, I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I have fun on the bike, at all the circuits and with the people and the team around me."
Where did you make a difference with Fabio?
"It's clear that we have a better bike, it's still hard for him to fight against the Ducatis, but he's riding amazingly. Definitely it was a good show although I don't know how happy the French were with it. I was very fast in the first two sectors, and when I caught up with him I tried to pass him as soon as possible to avoid having problems with the front pressure. It was a good fight, at home, but he is still one of the favorites for the podium tomorrow."
Marc is your idol, did you get a chance to talk to him?
"He told me that he knew from yesterday that I was going to crash in the second corner in qualifying. I asked him why, and he told me, 'You go in really fast at that point.' Besides that, he advised me to keep calm, because I have the base to be able to do well."
Did you change anything to achieve this result?
"More than anything, I gained experience and laps on the bike, but above all I was able to fight for some laps with the top riders, this allows you to improve faster as a rider. It's a matter of time, I'm a rookie and now is a good time, but we have to stay calm."
If you found yourself fighting with Alex tomorrow?
"Now he is no longer the leader, no?, joked the Spaniard, he is my teammate and the first of my rivals. There is a lot of respect between us, but the fight with Alex is not my goal. It is to try to follow him, him and the other top riders, in order to learn as quickly as possible. If the opportunity for overtaking arises, I will try, although right now he is riding at another level while we still need to improve."