'Incredible, what a ride' - Neil Hodgson praises Fermin Aldeguer for shock second place at Grand Prix Austria

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Sunday's Grand Prix Austria MotoGP race looked to be heading towards another routine win for Ducati Lenovo rider Marc Marquez after he swept past Aprilia's Marco Bezzecchi. However, 20-year-old BK8 Gresini's rookie Fermin Aldeguer battled past the Italian and gave Martin a nervy few laps at the finale. While Marquez held onto the lead, Neil Hodgson was thrilled with the youngster's efforts.

'He's got that raw desire' - Aldeguer celebrates brilliant second place in Austria

Video credit: TNT Sports

Neil Hodgson celebrated an "incredible" performance from BK8 Gresini rider Fermin Aldeguer, who secured second at Grand Prix Austria on Sunday.

Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo) ultimately had little difficulty in usurping Aprilia polesitter Marco Bezzecchi and looked to be pulling away for another routine win - and another double weekend - but Aldeguer had other ideas.

The rookie Spaniard hurtled towards the leading duo and went past Bezzecchi to set up a relatively tense end to a race that had seemed to be a drifting towards another Marquez maximum.

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While the title leader held on for the win, Aldeguer’s performance put him in the limelight as a potential challenger to the Ducati Lenovo rider.

Speaking on TNT Sports after the race, Hodgson was thrilled with Aldeguer being able to upend the story of the race.

"We thought it was going to be a foregone conclusion," Hogdson said. "I thought Marc was going to get to the front early on, control the race, but [Bezzecchi] kept him honest.

'Marquez bravely hangs on' - Spaniard beats Bezzecchi into Grand Prix Austria lead

Video credit: TNT Sports

"The young 20-year-old rookie never slowed down, just kept moving forward. He was four or five seconds down at one point. Incredible, what a ride.

"He just looks like he doesn't look up to riders around him. He jumped into Moto2 when he was 16 years old and battled at the front. It was bizarre watching him. I was like, ‘Are you sure he’s only 16 years old?’"

Hodgson admired the youngster’s ability and mentality at such a young age, adding: "Mature, the way he rides beyond his years. When you talk to him, when you meet him, he's quite a relaxed, chilled character. He doesn't seem to have a big ego.

"To put it into perspective, he was a MotoE rider four years ago. That is some ascendancy to the top. Incredible."

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