Aldeguer earns first MotoGP penalty for Oliveira clash

Fermin Aldeguer will have to serve a long lap penalty in Sunday’s Argentina Grand Prix after taking out Miguel Oliveira in Saturday’s MotoGP sprint race – an accident that resulted in the Portuguese rider heading to hospital.

There was some concern that Oliveira might have broken his collarbone following the lap 4 incident, in which Aldeguer attempted to overtake the five-time MotoGP winner deep in the pack. However, it was confirmed on Saturday evening that Oliveira had no fractures. He will undergo another medical examination on Sunday morning.

Aldeguer took the blame for the clash with Oliveira, who missed several races late last season due to an injury and has moved from Trackhouse Racing Team Aprilia to Pramac Yamaha for a fresh start in 2025.

“I tried to overtake [Oliveira] as fast as possible, to try to regain the position,” said Aldeguer. “And I touched him. I have to apologise to Miguel and also to Pramac. It was not my intention to touch him.”

The penalty represents Aldeguer’s first brush with MotoGP officialdom, which has been represented by Simon Crafar since the beginning of this season two weeks ago in Thailand.

Specifically, Aldeguer was sanctioned for “causing an accident or contact with another rider resulting in an accident”. Being his first infraction of this type, his punishment is limited to a long lap penalty.

Meanwhile, Lorenzo Savadori, Aprilia’s test rider and Jorge Martin’s replacement, was unable to finish the sprint after suffering an awkward moment on his bike in Q1.

“During Q1, Lorenzo Savadori lost control of the bike on the exit of a corner, which caused an injury [a sprain] to his left shoulder, resulting in a subluxation that subsided spontaneously,” explained the team.

“The Italian rider was evaluated at the circuit’s medical centre, and no bone lesions were found in the affected areas. He was given analgesic medication; unfortunately, the symptoms related to the sprain prevented him from finishing the sprint, forcing him to retire six laps before the end.”

Savadori will also be assessed ahead of the warm-up on Sunday.