A wheel might not have even turned in 2024, but already there's a lot of talk and speculation surrounding the makeup of the 2025 MotoGP™ grid. In a huge year for contracts, with only three riders seeing their deals extend beyond the end of the season, Spanish paper El Periodico are reporting that Ducati have made the first move, and a significant one too, by snapping up arguably the hottest prospect on the Moto2™ grid.

Fermin Aldeguer romped his way to four straight wins at the end of 2023, becoming the first rider to achieve that since 2010 and all at just 18 years of age, resulting in very strong links between himself and some of the vacant premier class seats in the final weeks of the season. However, team boss Luca Boscuscuro refused to release the Spaniard from his Speed Up contract, meaning he would return to Moto2™ in 2024 with the sole target of winning the World Championship.

Now, experienced Spanish reporter Emilio Perez de Rozas is reporting that Aldeguer was present at Ducati's head office in Bologna last week to sign a deal that would see him promoted to the premier class in 2025. It is uncertain at this time what team he will ride for next year, but there's expected to be a vacant space in the Prima Pramac Racing squad.

2023 runner-up Jorge Martin has made his intentions very clear throughout the off-season, saying that he won't accept anything other than a full factory ride in 2025. That means the upcoming campaign will be his last with the Independent Ducati squad. Therefore, Aldeguer could replace his good friend next season in a move that was reported at the end of last year.

Nothing has been formally announced by any of the 11 MotoGP™ outfits as to their 2025 line-ups as of this current moment, but expect the first dominoes to fall before too long. As ever, stick to motogp.com to be the first to know.