Only Three Official MotoGP Bikes – Who’ll get Ducati’s Third…
In order to reduce the cost of its MotoGP project, class leader Ducati will decrease the number of factory-spec bikes…
As the 2024 MotoGP season nears its close, Ducati test rider Michele Pirro has been confirmed as VR46’s stand-in rider for the Barcelona GP on November 15-17. Pirro will be stepping in for Fabio di Giannantonio, who remains sidelined after recent shoulder surgery.
Though Andrea Iannone turned heads with a strong showing in Sepang, impressing VR46 and team owner Valentino Rossi, Ducati has chosen Pirro for Barcelona.
Iannone, who returned to the track for the first time since 2019 following a doping ban, managed a respectable finish in Malaysia, ending 17th and adapting well to the GP23.
Yet, Ducati ultimately opted for Pirro’s technical experience for the Barcelona round, considering the importance of reliable feedback in preparation for 2025 and the postseason test right after the last GP of the season.
This season, Ducati has deployed four factory-spec GP24 bikes across its official and Pramac teams. But in 2025, this will reduce to three, with Francesco Bagnaia, Marc Marquez, and Di Giannantonio at VR46. As MotoGP approaches a two-year engine freeze, the upcoming tests will be crucial for Ducati.
Gigi Dall’Igna, Ducati’s general manager, underscores Pirro’s role in supporting both Bagnaia and Marquez in refining the GP25, especially as Marquez transitions to a new factory setup after riding the year-old model with Gresini in 2024.
Pirro will also be part of Ducati’s pre-season testing team at Barcelona, with testing set to begin on November 19. He’s currently working with the GP25 at Jerez, and this week’s data will guide Ducati as it gears up for the initial official test.
Ducati’s readiness to optimize performance in light of the new development freeze underscores the importance of Pirro’s insights in what promises to be a crucial weekend for the Italian manufacturer.
