Following on from his history-making performance at the Grand Prix of Argentina last weekend, 17-year-old Fermin Aldeguer has been the talk of the paddock over recent days. Smashing five-time World Champion Jorge Lorenzo's record of youngest-ever intermediate class polesitter at just 16, the Spaniard was instantly heavily rumoured to be in talks with a handful of premier class teams.
Now, Aldeguer's manager Hector Faubel has confirmed the Speed Up rider has two official deals on the table from a pair of MotoGP™ factories. Speaking to MotoGP™ reporter Jack Appleyard at the Circuit of the Americas, the former 125cc Grand Prix winner said Aldeguer will remain in Moto2™ next season but is weighing up offers from two factories for 2024.
"At this moment, we have many possibilities," started Faubel. "We'll listen to the offers but remain relaxed, he's still very young. Two factories have given us an offer and every satellite team has contacted us. Next year, for sure, we'll stay in Moto2. We both decided to stay as we need another year of experience. Minimum we'll do this year and next year.
"It's been crazy. Energy drinks, helmets, gloves, boots, leathers, everyone all contacting me. They all want Fermin. From now on, the young riders can't come to the Championship. Fermin is one year younger than everyone who will join from next year, so there's a lot of interest."
Aldeguer remains contract to Luca Boscuscruo's outfit until the end of the 2023 Moto2™ World Championship but definitely looks set to move through to the premier class the year after. Where will the remarkable 17-year-old end up, though? It's understood HRC were the only premier class factory not to contact Aldeguer's representatives prior to this weekend's Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, making them unlikely to have tabled an offer.
Both KTM and now Yamaha have Moto2™ talent programmes, so could aid the Spaniard's development in the intermediate class before moving him up. Are Aprilia lining up a marquee signing to take their ever-growing project into a new era? Ducati could add yet another talented youngster to their plethora of emerging stars, whilst Suzuki aren't afriad to pluck a rookie from Moto2™ for their factory outfit.