Fermín Aldeguer accepts that the pain in his leg will not go away. He acknowledged it himself in the paddock at Le Mans, during the weekend of the French Grand Prix 2026. The phrase came in Italian and is clear: the driver lives with the discomfort and that coexistence will be long.

There is no drama in his tone. There is calculated resignation. And a fact: he thinks he will keep competing.

The statement and its context

Aldeguer spoke in the mixed zone on Friday, after the first day at Le Mans. The session was led by Luca Marini with the Honda, according to times published by motorsport.com. Aldeguer was not among the standout names in FP1, which adds meaning to his words.

The driver verbalized something that in the paddock had been intuited for weeks: his leg hurts, it will keep hurting, and with that he has to race. The statement comes without an official medical report released by Dorna. It is the driver's voice, not a team statement.

What it means on track

Chronic pain in a leg is not a minor detail in MotoGP. It affects braking with the rear axle, support in quick direction changes and positioning on the bike through long corners. Le Mans, with its hard braking at the end of straights and the Dunlop chicane, is not the friendliest circuit for someone who cannot lean properly.

Friday confirmed it with the stopwatch. Marini at the top, Bezzecchi and Bagnaia lagging behind, and Aldeguer far from the benchmark set by the lead pace. One session does not define a weekend, but it does point the way.

Pain management in the paddock

MotoGP teams manage these situations with the circuit's Medical Centre and with the driver's specialist. The usual protocol involves approved anti-inflammatory drugs, daily physiotherapy between sessions and, if the discomfort escalates, evaluation with a view to an intervention outside the calendar, normally during the summer break.

Aldeguer has not mentioned surgery. He talks about enduring. That is, for now, the position.

What comes next

After Le Mans, the calendar does not forgive. The next rounds demand full physical condition and the Spaniard knows it. The question that hangs in the air is not whether he will race, but at what level he can do so when the pain tightens in the second part of the race.

Frequently asked questions

What has Aldeguer said exactly about his injury?

That the pain in his leg will be with him until the end of the season. He stated this at Le Mans during the French Grand Prix 2026 weekend.

Will he keep competing?

Yes. He has not mentioned stopping or immediate surgery. His plan is to race while living with the discomfort.

Is there an official medical report?

No official statement from Dorna or the team has been released at the time of his statements. The information comes from the driver himself.

How did it affect him at Le Mans?

In FP1, Marini led with the Honda. Aldeguer did not appear among the reference times on Friday.

The real doubt comes on Sunday. The stopwatch will say whether his leg holds up a complete race distance.